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City staff presents proposed water, sewer and garbage rate increases; public letter urges protection for seniors
Summary
Staff described a proposed 1.5% across-the-board increase to residential and commercial water and sewer rates and a 5% increase in garbage fees tied to contract inflation; a written public comment urged limiting increases for seniors and low-income residents.
City of Bandera staff outlined proposed changes to utility charges during the Aug. 13 public hearing, saying the draft budget includes a 1.5 percent increase for residential and commercial water and sewer rates and a 5 percent increase for garbage service tied to contract inflation.
Staff said the residential increase is reflected in the draft fee schedules included in the packet and cited estimated additional revenue of about $9,911 for residential water and $7,647 for commercial water under the proposal. Staff gave an example that a customer using 2,000 gallons would see a roughly 45 percent increase on the water line in the example provided and a $0.50 increase on sewer in that billing illustration.
A written comment was read into the record by Mayor Rebecca Gibson on behalf of a local resident asking the council to avoid a full-city rate increase and to consider limiting higher rates to high-volume users; the letter said many local residents are seniors on Social Security and urged the council to weigh that when deciding rates. The mayor read the letter at the public hearing; no vote on rates occurred during the hearing.
Staff said the rate proposal shown is what the council directed earlier in budget discussions and that the detailed budget workshop later in the regular meeting would offer further opportunity for questions before any formal adoption. Council did not take action on utility rates at the hearing; the matter will return for deliberation as part of the budget process.
