Sierra Vista staff proposes phased sewer and refuse rate increases, shifts impact-fee structure

City staff presented a package of proposed utility and development-fee changes that would raise sewer and refuse rates in two phased increases and restructure several impact fees, with council votes scheduled for the May 22 regular meeting.

The proposal would raise sewer rates by 15% in two steps — the first effective July 1, 2025, and the second July 1, 2026 — and increase refuse rates by 10% on the same schedule. "We're proposing a 10% rate increase, 1 in July '25 and 1 in 07/01/2026," said Mister Felix, a city staff member who presented the item. Felix said the sewer increase is across-the-board for residential and business accounts and the refuse increase will generally raise bills for customers who receive side-loader collection service.

Why it matters: utility rate increases affect household budgets and development costs; staff said the measures are tied to needed sewer-line replacements, higher vehicle maintenance and fuel costs for refuse collection, and planned capital projects that must be…