Pampa presents enterprise-fund budget proposals including water/wastewater rate increases and $13.3 million five-year capital plan

City finance and utilities staff presented proposed budgets and five-year capital plans for the city’s enterprise (proprietary) funds and recommended modest rate changes to support upcoming capital work.

Theresa Daniels presented summaries for the city’s leased-properties fund, water and wastewater fund, water park, solid waste (landfill) and golf course funds. In the water and wastewater fund (Fund 31) she reported proposed revenues of $9.5 million and proposed expenditures of $9.2 million, producing a projected excess of roughly $253,721 in the proposed budget; the five‑year capital improvement program for the fund totals about $13.3 million with roughly $4.4 million requested in fiscal year 2025–26. Daniels and public-works staff said large items include pump-station work and a proposed groundwater storage tank project (listed in presentation as a major item at approximately $3,000,000).

To help fund capital needs, staff proposed an increase in the minimum utility bill that would raise the minimum 5/8‑inch meter bill by $1.30 and implement a 3% increase on water rates and a 2.3% increase on sewer rates. Daniels told the commission the prison system’s water rate would increase about 10% as part of a multi-year adjustment to align its rate with other outside-city customers.

Daniels also presented the water park and golf-fund budgets. The municipal water park is projected to operate at a deficit (projected revenues $288,700; expenditures $457,510; shortfall about $168,810) and staff said transfers from other funds typically cover shortfalls. The golf course fund shows a projected deficit (revenues $451,000; expenditures $820,523) and requested about $153,500 in capital for the coming year.

For the solid-waste fund Daniels reported revenues of roughly $2.6 million, expenditures of about $2.1 million and an excess of approximately $434,037. Staff recommended setting 20% of the excess into a capital reimbursement account to help cover recent landfill-cell construction and to build a restricted reserve; recent cell work cost roughly $3.2 million and staff said the current cells typically last seven to ten years.

Daniels reviewed outstanding debt in enterprise funds and noted one series tied to landfill cell construction that will mature in 2028. She said the landfill’s tonnage fee is proposed for a 2% increase (from $48.50 to approximately $49.50) and noted a previous consultant recommended a target tonnage rate of $54 in 2023 to support long-term sustainability.

Commissioners asked for clarity on contractual costs (Daniels confirmed Jacobs provides water and wastewater contract services) and about debt participation and pooled debt discussions. Staff said some regional pooled debt decisions are made through a regional board and that cities participating have voting representation but limited control once a pooled issuance proceeds. Daniels closed by reiterating upcoming budget workshop dates and deadlines for future meetings.