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Draft budget includes major water utility staffing and a proposed rate increase; $500M-plus multi‑year CIP planned
Summary
City staff proposed 25 new water utility positions, implementation of a cost-of-service study with rate increases (9% water, 12% wastewater proposed for Oct. 1) and a multi-year capital program that staff said is the city’s largest fund commitment in the draft budget.
City staff told the council the draft utility budgets respond to rapid growth and include a proposed rate package and a large capital program for water and wastewater.
Staff said the water utility draft includes proposals to add 25 positions across multiple cost centers to support treatment, distribution, meters and regulatory compliance. The presentation also reflected the results of a recent cost‑of‑service study: staff recommended a 9% water rate increase and a 12% wastewater rate increase, both to take effect Oct. 1 if council adopts them with the budget.
Capital program and system planning Staff presented a multi-year capital plan for water and wastewater projects that totals several hundred million dollars in the near term, including funding for a Northlands wastewater treatment plant, expansions and upgrades to lift stations and interceptors (including Cowan Creek and Cimarron Hills projects), and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) well development. Staff said some projects will be funded in part by grants and by phased debt issuance; staff also noted a federal congressional grant to help support ASR work.
Operational changes Staff described organizational changes to align the water utility’s cost centers and to split a combined utility control center into separate control centers for electric and water; the draft includes additional operational technology and instrumentation staff and vehicles to support plant operations and maintenance.
Why it matters: The water and wastewater rate increases and the CIP are the largest single fund elements in the draft budget and will affect residential and commercial ratepayers if adopted. Staff framed the increases as part of a ten‑year master plan tied to new water resources and long‑term system reliability.
Next steps Staff said the ordinances that would set the water and wastewater rates are planned to be brought forward with the proposed budget in August for council consideration and public hearings.
