Independence reviews two sewer‑rate options to fund $25 million capital plan and meet reserve policy

Alex Craven, project manager for 1898 & Company (part of Burns & McDonnell), told the Independence City Council that the city’s sewer utility needs additional revenue to fund a roughly $25 million capital improvement plan for 2026–2030 and to meet a council‑adopted minimum cash reserve policy.

Craven said the consulting team prepared two multi‑year rate scenarios. Option 1 generates higher annual revenues, fully funds the adopted capital improvement plan and reaches the city’s target cash reserve one year earlier; the consultant recommended Option 1. Option 2 would produce lower annual revenue, require roughly $5 million less capital spending from the CIP and reach the minimum reserve at the end of the forecast instead of a year sooner.

The presentation matters to ratepayers because it would increase typical monthly sewer bills. Craven showed an example customer using 600 cubic feet of flow per month: under current rates that bill is $57.21; under Option 1 the example bill would rise to $62.70 in 2026 and under Option 2 to $61.32 in 2026. Craven and staff said they are not proposing structural changes to the…