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City warns of large possible water and sewer rate increases; consultant, TWDB loans cited
Summary
City Manager Jason Weeks and staff described a worst-case utility-rate proposal that would raise a typical in-city residential water and sewer monthly bill by about 29.8% and outlined debt issuances, including a proposed Texas Water Development Board loan for Hilltop projects and open-market borrowing.
Mineral Wells — City Manager Jason Weeks told the council that the city’s proposed water and sewer rate plan represents a “worst case scenario product” from the city’s consultant and warned that large increases may be required to cover new debt and water-purchase obligations. Using NewGen Strategies’ draft, residents with an average in-city winter usage (5,000 gallons of water and 4,800 gallons of wastewater) would see a combined water and sewer bill increase from $189.78 to $246.34 — a $56.56 or 29.8 percent increase in the monthly bill under the scenario presented.
Why it matters: The water and sewer fund is structurally stressed in FY2026. The city manager reported the water fund would end the year with a 17.8 percent fund balance (about 53 days of working capital), below the city policy…
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