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City incorporates Department of Water & Power budget, approves planned capital projects
Summary
The council incorporated the Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power’s FY25–26 budget into the city’s financial plans. The DWP budget includes about $13 million in revenue, $7.5 million in financing for the Garston Water Operations Facility, and several capital projects including Wolf Reservoir and a new well.
The Big Bear Lake City Council voted June 11 to incorporate the Department of Water & Power’s (DWP) fiscal year 2025–26 budget into the city’s finances after the DWP board approved the plan.
DWP staff told the council the utility expects roughly $13 million in revenues in the coming year and plans about $9.4 million in capital projects. The budget includes interim financing (estimated $7.5 million) for construction of a new Garston Water Operations Facility, with long‑term financing expected through U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) direct loans. The Garston facility was presented as the largest single capital project in the DWP plan; staff said USDA terms could be favorable (40‑year loan with a maximum interest rate of 3.25 percent as described by staff).
Other capital projects in the DWP package include a new high‑capacity well (Division Well No. 9) equipped with a $500,000 USBR grant for equipping costs, the Wolf Reservoir and booster project (adding roughly 500,000 gallons of storage in the Wolf pressure zone), and ongoing well rehabilitation and meter replacement programs. Staff noted the system expects to complete $3.4 million in capital improvements in the current fiscal year and carry several projects into FY25–26.
DWP also detailed operational items: a meter replacement program to address aging radio‑read meters, leak‑notification efforts for customers and a program that last year notified over 3,600 customers of suspected leaks (saving an estimated 60 million gallons), and planned maintenance for reservoirs including a comprehensive structural/seismic study now underway.
Council voted to adopt a resolution incorporating the DWP budget into the city’s fiscal plans. The action was taken after staff answered council questions about grant funding, project phasing and the proposed interim and USDA long‑term financing arrangements.
