Mona council discusses lowering water base from 15,000 to 12,000 gallons

At its March 25 work session, the Mona City Council discussed a planned vote on lowering the city water base allocation from 15,000 gallons to 12,000 gallons per billing period and considered whether to eventually move to 10,000 gallons.

The discussion was prompted by what a council member described as a recent “state mandate” and by data from a forthcoming engineering study. The council presiding official said lowering the base would “help on that” and asked staff for input on timing and the mechanics of a phased reduction.

Why it matters: the base allocation determines when customers enter higher usage tiers and can affect monthly bills for households and large users such as small farms. Council members and staff said most residential customers in town would not be affected by a reduction to 12,000 gallons, while a small number of large users would see sizable changes.

Council discussion and evidence

A presiding council member summarized prior work on the issue, saying the city previously discussed moving toward a tiered system and reducing the base “months ago” but did not implement changes. The same council member noted a “state mandate” and asked staff, “This would help on that, Shay, with changing the usage down?”

One council member said, “I’ve been in favor of 10 to begin with even when we talked about it months ago,” but acknowledged community concern. City staff noted that a few accounts use substantially more water: “we’ve got a couple of people in town who use a hundred thousand monthly because they’re using it for agriculture,” a staff member said.

A council member framed the immediate difference between 15,000 and 12,000 gallons as modest for most customers: “But it’s only $9 a month difference.” Another member summarized local comparisons: “I built a spreadsheet. I went through every city in the freaking state. 10 is generous. 12 is generous.”

The council repeatedly referenced an ongoing rate study. A council member asked whether the city’s water study would include a rate analysis; staff said the water engineering firm Sunrise is conducting the water study and that the council can verify whether a specific rate analysis was included or add it to the scope.

Next steps and competing options

Council members agreed to leave the item on the council meeting agenda for a vote to change the base from 15,000 to 12,000 gallons. Several members signaled a willingness to revisit the base again, with at least one saying the council could consider lowering it to 10,000 gallons in a subsequent year if study results and community feedback support that step.

The city also discussed whether to reinstate a prior annual $3 per year incremental increase that had been used previously and lapsed; staff noted system maintenance costs have risen and referenced the city audit showing reduced water net income in the most recent audit.

The council chair said the water rate item is scheduled for a vote at the upcoming council meeting, and that staff will confirm the scope and timing of the engineering firm’s rate analysis.

Ending

The council scheduled the rate-change item for a formal vote at tonight’s council meeting, with members expressing a tentative consensus for 12,000 gallons now and the possibility of lowering the base further after the engineering study and additional public input.