Council orders public outreach on possible sewer rate increases and expands utility assistance program

Reno officials told the City Council the sewer enterprise fund faces long‑term pressure from rising construction and treatment costs and asked the council to authorize public outreach on a potential rate increase. Regional Infrastructure Administrator John Flansberg said April 9 the city’s 20‑year sewer capital improvement program runs near $1 billion and that construction indexes and certain chemical and power costs have increased sharply since 2019.

Flansberg and consultant Luke Tipton of Dow LLC presented a rate sufficiency analysis showing the sewer fund could become insolvent in the late 2020s without changes. The consultant recommended an 8% increase in sewer user rates in each of the next two years followed by annual CPI adjustments. Flansberg said the proposal includes steps to protect low‑income households: the council directed staff to start community engagement on the rate options and to return with an ordinance only after gathering public comment.

Council members also approved a separate action to restructure the existing sewer rebate program into a year‑round “Sewer Utility Assistance Program,” and to increase initial program funding. Flansberg said the program would rely on existing eligibility verification (for example SNAP, Social Security income and similar programs) and recommended making the application available year‑round rather than for a limited summer window. The council voted unanimously on both motions: to direct staff to conduct public outreach and return with an ordinance on sewer rate options, and to bring back a resolution establishing the utility assistance program details and an expanded initial budget for council approval.

Councilmembers said they expect a formal public meeting, mail and online outreach and will weigh alternative rate scenarios in response to public input. Flansberg stressed the analysis did not include proposals to continue the city’s prior connection‑fee support for affordable housing — he said continuing that program would require higher user rates than those now proposed.