Cullman water and sewer rates drop for FY 2027: base + usage inside/outside
Cullman’s FY 2027 residential water and sewer retail rates begin Oct. 1, 2026, changing base + per-1,000-gallon charges inside vs. outside city limits.
Cullman residents are scheduled to see lower residential water and sewer retail charges for fiscal year 2027 under ordinances adopted by the City of Cullman earlier this month.
The new rates for the FY 2027 billing cycle take effect Oct. 1, 2026. Your total bill is built from a base charge plus a per-1,000-gallon usage charge—and the numbers differ for homes inside city limits versus outside city limits.
What the city approved for FY 2027
On July 6, 2026, the Cullman City Council included second readings for two retail rate ordinances for FY 2027: Ordinance 2026-40 (retail sewer rates) and Ordinance 2026-41 (retail water rates).
Both ordinances say charges are calculated on a billing period of about 30 days (once each month) and are based on the quantity of water used.
Inside-city residential water rates (Ordinance 2026-41)
- $10.00 base charge + $10.75 per 1,000 gallons
Outside-city residential water rates (Ordinance 2026-41)
- $20.00 base charge + $16.50 per 1,000 gallons
Inside-city residential sewer rates (Ordinance 2026-40)
- $10.00 base charge + $15.25 per 1,000 gallons
Outside-city residential sewer rates (Ordinance 2026-40)
- $20.00 base charge + $21.00 per 1,000 gallons
How the billing math works (why usage still matters)
Because both water and sewer include a base + per-1,000-gallon structure, your bill changes with your usage. The per-1,000 charge is multiplied by the number of 1,000-gallon blocks you use during the billing period.
Example using the inside-city retail rates (water + sewer): If you’re billed for 8,000 gallons during the ordinance-described roughly 30-day billing period:
- Water (inside city limits): $10.00 + ($10.75 × 8) = $96.00
- Sewer (inside city limits): $10.00 + ($15.25 × 8) = $132.00
- Total (inside-city water + sewer): $228.00
Outside-city customers use the higher base and different per-1,000-gallon figures shown above, so their totals will differ.
What Cullman households may notice: a reported average savings
In its reporting, The Cullman Tribune said residents using an average of 8,000 gallons per month are expected to save roughly $10 per month under the city’s FY 2027 water and sewer rates.
Your result can be higher or lower depending on how much water you use.
What to watch next: the inflation adjustment starts Oct. 1, 2027
Importantly, the ordinances also include an inflation adjustment framework for rates and fees included in the ordinances. It’s described as 3% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is greater, applied on each Oct. 1 beginning Oct. 1, 2027, unless the City Council passes a resolution to waive the inflation adjustment.
For residents, the practical takeaway is to watch for any future City Council action related to waiving or adjusting the mechanism and to check utility-billing communications when the new framework begins.
To see the exact rate components for water and sewer (including inside vs. outside city limits), look up Ordinance 2026-41 (water) and Ordinance 2026-40 (sewer) on the City of Cullman’s website.
Sources
- Cullman Tribune (July 14, 2026) — report on Cullman residential water/sewer rate decreases for FY 2027
- City of Cullman City Council agenda (July 6, 2026) — includes second readings for Ordinance 2026-40 and 2026-41
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