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Sugar Grove staff review irrigation credits and utility-billing policy; 714 registered irrigation systems cited
Summary
Finance staff reviewed the village’s utility-billing policies, noting 714 registered irrigation systems that could generate substantial annual water/ sewer credits if the village adopted a broad credit program. Staff recommended outreach and education using a King County smart-irrigation flyer rather than a large program of credits.
Finance staff led a discussion of the village’s utility-billing policy focusing on irrigation and pool-filling credits. Finance Director Matthew Anastasia told trustees that the village currently has 714 registered irrigation systems and that staff does not collect the irrigation certification fee directly.
Using a sample calculation, staff estimated that providing a per-customer irrigation credit based on a summer/winter usage differential similar to nearby utility practices would cost the village roughly the equivalent of a 2.5 percent revenue change — more than the approximately $42,000 brought in by a 1 percent rate increase earlier in the year. Staff noted Fox Metro uses an approach that compares summer to winter averages and grants a discretionary credit when summer usage exceeds winter use by a threshold (example cited: 20 percent).
Staff also reported only four pool-filling credit requests this year. The recommendation from staff was to provide education about efficient irrigation systems and to post a King County water-efficiency flyer on the village’s water-conservation web page rather than to expand credits — a change that staff said would avoid substantial revenue impacts.
Trustees expressed support for outreach and education; one trustee called a watering credit “a contradiction to the water conservation ordinance.” Staff said they will post the referenced King County information on the village website and continue tracking request volumes.
Why it matters Utility credits for irrigation can reduce sewer/water fees for qualifying customers but create recurring revenue impacts. With a high number of registered irrigation systems in Sugar Grove, a broad credit program would have fiscal implications that were not funded in the current budget.
What’s next Staff will post the King County smart-irrigation flyer on the village water-conservation web page, continue to monitor credit requests and work with trustees if policy changes are proposed.
