The borough’s water fund expenses overtook revenues in fiscal year 2019, for the first time in eight years. Expenses haven’t dropped since. Graph made by borough chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart.

The Haines Borough Assembly introduced an ordinance that would raise water and sewer rates by 5% each year for the next four years, starting in July.

Borough staff proposed the rate hike earlier this month to compensate for state funding cuts and a sharp…