Metro Water presents FY26 tentative budget; proposes 5% rate increase, issues bonds for Cottonwoods work

Ann Lee Muncy, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy, presented Metro’s tentative fiscal year 2026 budget to the Sandy City Council on May 27, 2025, outlining proposed revenue changes, planned bond borrowing and major capital work in the Cottonwoods and at the Little Cottonwood treatment plant.

Metro’s tentative budget proposes a 5% increase in water rates for member cities and nonmember surplus sales; Muncy said that increase would generate roughly $342,907 in additional revenue for Sandy City. She told the council that the budget includes bond proceeds equal to about 27% of projected revenue, a capital program of about $37,000,000, and total uses and debt service that bring the budget package to approximately $111,000,000.

The budget matters to Sandy ratepayers because Metro funds capital work through a mix of water sales, property taxes, miscellaneous reimbursements and bond proceeds. “The proposed water rate increase to both member cities and nonmember entities is 5%,” Muncy said. She also told the council the tentative budget does not include…