Westminster City reviews revenues, flags missed solid-waste rate and potential utility increases

Westminster City staff reviewed revenue trends and possible utility-rate changes during an April 8 budget workshop, telling council members a missed solid-waste rate application will be corrected on upcoming bills and that future increases may be needed to cover service costs and longer-term obligations.

City administrator (name not specified) told the council that ‘‘I found out today, we have not we did not apply the 3 and a half percent rate increase to our residential customers July 1 as we should have’’ and that ‘‘it'll go on the next bills that go out ... their May bill.’’ The administrator said staff will present a proposed budget at a special-call meeting on April 29 and that first and second readings are scheduled for May 13 and June 17, respectively.

Why it matters: The missed application of the solid-waste increase affects near-term collections and the department's ability to cover a new sanitation truck and operating costs. Council members and staff discussed timing options for rate changes — splitting increases, delaying until January, or targeting specific customer groups — as a way to reduce immediate customer burden.

Revenue review and one-time funds City staff walked the council through revenue lines, noting one-time and grant inflows that distort year-to-year comparisons. The presentation called out a roughly…