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Water and sewer funds perform near expectations; billing access and generator projects cited as resiliency gains
Summary
Water and sanitary‑sewer presenters told the finance committee that city water revenues are above projections and officials did not need to use cash reserves; staff credited expanded payment access for fewer shutoffs and reported completion of a major generator project for resiliency.
Keisha Kenny, who presented the water and sanitary sewer update, told the Finance Committee that the water fund is performing “as expected” for 2025 and that city water revenues are roughly 7.5 percent (about $2.4 million) above projections year‑to‑date. She said lime sales were up about 13 percent and that water sales to city customers rose about 8.9 percent, reflecting a 9 percent rate increase that is included in the numbers.
On expenditures, Kenny said personnel costs are higher because the department filled positions, but the fund did not need to use cash reserves through the second quarter. She told the committee that contracts and materials are roughly flat, and that some utility billing timing (IGS billing) delayed charges that could appear in later quarters.
Kenny highlighted completed capital and resiliency work: the department finished a large generator installation at the city’s yard to improve redundancy and resiliency and completed pump and motor replacements at the West Bluffton pump station. The water presenter said security upgrades — fence improvements and card readers — have been installed at some facilities.
On the sanitary‑sewer side, staff reported performance close to expectations with revenue increases from outside jurisdictions (about a 5.5 percent rate increase and higher usage) and some new renewable natural gas revenue. Sewer personnel wages were lower in aggregate because of vacancies, which increased overtime costs for 24‑hour operations; sludge‑handling costs rose with CPI‑linked charges.
During the meeting a committee member asked whether the reduction in shutoffs reflected a policy change or improved resident finances. Kenny said the decline in shutoffs is “partly” the result of a multi‑year effort to make payment more accessible — new billing vendors, pay‑at‑retail options such as CVS, online payment and online payment plans — and that easier payment access has helped residents stay current.
Staff said both funds did not use cash balances through the second quarter and that they will monitor IGS billing timing and remaining capital receipts and invoices in coming quarters.
