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Belton residents urge council to revisit new water and sewer billing structure after large rate jump
Summary
Two longtime Belton residents told council their March–April bills rose sharply after the city implemented a new sewer‑billing method and changed irrigation meter handling; they asked council to reevaluate and correct what they described as unfair charges.
Two Belton residents told the city council during public comment that changes in how the city calculates sewer charges and treats irrigation meters have produced sudden, large utility bills for their household.
Rosemary Sims, speaking for herself and her husband, said their combined utility bills for March and April jumped to about $472.47 per month after historically averaging roughly $132.90 for those months over the previous four years. Sims said that increase represents about a 356% change compared with the historical average at their address. She told the council the family believes two elements in the new structure are unfair: a steeper volumetric rate for water passing through larger meters and the apparent disappearance of a prior distinction between irrigation (sprinkler) meters and domestic water when calculating sewer charges.
Sims said they believe their meter is a 1‑inch meter installed before 1988 and that the sample rate sheet published in November 2024 shows markedly higher per‑thousand‑gallon charges for 1‑inch meters than for standard 5/8‑inch meters. “This change in our view is outrageous,” she said, adding that when they installed a separate irrigation meter a decade ago they were told by contractors and city staff that water metered only for sprinkling would not be assessed for sewer because it does not enter the sewer system.
The council did not take immediate action during public comment. Mayor David Lee and staff explained that the matters raised would be sent to city staff for review; staff said they would examine bills and return to council or the residents with an explanation or recommended corrections where merited. The council requested staff follow up and report back on the complaints and any required technical or billing fixes.
No formal resolution or ordinance change was proposed on the spot; the comments were entered into the public record and routed to utility staff for investigation.
