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Board reviews Raftelis assessment, cautions that monthly billing could raise costs
Summary
The board discussed a Raftelis assessment and the financial trade-offs of moving to monthly billing; staff said implementing monthly billing would add administrative cost approaching $400,000 and recommended further analysis and communication to the council.
Board members reviewed findings from a water and sewer assessment (referenced as completed by Raftelis) and discussed billing frequency, customer communication and comparative rates with neighboring towns.
One board member said a move to monthly billing would increase administrative costs by nearly $400,000. Members discussed alternatives including offering monthly payment as an option, improving online payment and showing a breakdown on bills so customers can see monthly cost equivalents.
Why it matters: changes to billing frequency or structure can affect customer payment behavior, administrative costs and public perception. The board asked staff to digest the Raftelis assessment and prepare a digestible summary for the city council, citing potential political implications if the issue is not framed clearly.
Next steps: staff will summarize the Raftelis findings and present options to the council; the board flagged customer education and optional monthly payment arrangements as possible next steps.
