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Highland Village staff warns modest 2026 utility rate changes could presage larger future increases
Summary
City finance staff briefed the Highland Village City Council on the utility fund, proposing small water and sewer rate adjustments for fiscal 2026 and outlining rising wholesale costs, higher operating expenses and a projected need for about $700,000 in additional annual revenue by 2027 to preserve fund balance targets.
City finance staff told the Highland Village City Council on Aug. 12 that the city expects a modest net position for the utility fund in fiscal 2026 if the council approves the staff-proposed rate adjustments, but cautioned that larger increases may be needed in later years to preserve reserves.
Staff said water sales were lower than budgeted this summer because of wetter weather, and that some operational expenses have risen. Staff described a $19,000 increase in administration costs (about $16,000 of that tied to credit-card fees), higher bill-printing and postage costs, and unplanned operations spending: an emergency sanitary structure repair that raised sewer-line maintenance above budget and a camera purchase this year that should reduce future line-inspection costs.
To recover higher wholesale charges from Upper Trinity Regional Water District (staff said Upper Trinity and…
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