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Bullhead City holds public hearing on proposed three-year water and wastewater rate increases
Summary
City staff presented a plan to phase in multi-year increases for water (19% year one, then 14% in years two and three) and sewer (8% each year) to address aging infrastructure, supply-chain inflation and a $10 million loan from the general fund; public hearing set for Sept. 16 vote, with an assistance program proposed.
Bullhead City held a public hearing Sept. 2 on a staff proposal to raise water and wastewater rates over three years to cover rising costs, aging infrastructure and debt the utilities owe to the general fund.
City Manager Toby Carter and Utilities Director Mark Clark told the council the utilities operate as enterprise funds and must cover their own costs. Clark said the city has borrowed nearly $10 million from the general fund to pay for upgrades since taking over the system from EPCOR and that the borrowed sums will need eventual repayment. "The general fund has not given us that money. They've loaned it to us," Clark said. "And just like anybody else that takes a loan, eventually, you have to pay that money back."
The draft schedule presented would raise water base rates by about 19% on Jan. 1, 2026, then 14% on Jan. 1, 2027 and again Jan. 1, 2028. Wastewater (sewer) rates would increase 8% in each of the same three years. Staff said the increases…
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