Seneca County board approves adjusted water rates for Water District 1, corrects out-of-district charge to $8.09

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors approved an amended rate schedule for Seneca County Water District 1 on Aug. 12, 2025, including a corrected out-of-district charge of $8.09 per unit.

Supervisor Shipley brought the item forward and the board approved an amendment to change the out-of-district cost from the publicized $8.03 to $8.09 before voting on the overall rate change. The board carried the motion after a discussion in which county staff described a new pricing model used to set the rate.

A staff member identified in the meeting as Daniel explained the county used a pricing model that includes variable and fixed costs and reflects increases in the purchase price of water. “This is the rate that we need to charge to pay our quarterly water bill,” Daniel said, describing the model as intended to cover operating costs and to build capacity for repairs.

Daniel told the supervisors that the water district historically had not been charged at rates that matched costs, producing year-end shortfalls. He noted the village of Waterloo plans increases over the next four years, and said the county hopes to absorb future purchase-price increases if it charges a rate that covers current costs and reduces water loss through proactive repairs.

Supervisor Partee asked why out-of-district users were being charged the same rate as in-district users; Daniel said the pricing reverts to the 2023 precedent because out-of-district users “benefit from the same infrastructure.” The transcript shows the board approved the amended rate schedule as presented; no roll-call by name was recorded in the transcript for the vote.

The board’s resolution does not appear in the meeting transcript with a full rate schedule beyond the corrected out-of-district figure; the transcript records the change and the staff explanation but not an itemized bill of quantities or a stated effective date.