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Riverton approves budget amendment for higher culinary‑water costs and adopts new water fees; council orders rate study
Summary
Facing higher than expected wholesale water charges and delayed well production, Riverton approved a budget amendment to pay additional culinary‑water purchases, approved a new water fee schedule (exhibit B) and directed staff to complete a rate study to design long‑term rate structures and address master‑metered accounts.
Riverton City Council approved a budget amendment to cover higher than expected culinary‑water purchases and adopted a new municipal fee schedule that raises water rates, after extended council discussion and public comment.
Finance staff said a delay in the city’s planned well coming online, together with invoicing timing from the regional conservancy district, produced a shortfall in the current water‑purchases budget. The city has consolidated invoices through December and adjusted its projections; staff presented a pro forma showing the amendment would be covered by fund balance. Council then voted to approve a resolution amending the FY2025 budget to cover the additional water purchases.
Council debated two proposed fee schedules and asked for more information about who the largest water users are. Council members requested better disaggregated usage data to identify whether high usage originates from homeowners, HOAs/PUDs, commercial accounts or municipal meters. Several council members and public commenters urged conservation outreach and said residents should be notified of usage patterns. Staff told the council the city will run a formal rate study to craft a multi‑tiered, long‑term rate structure and evaluate master‑metered HOAs and PUDs for equitable billing practices.
After discussion the council adopted the fee schedule presented as Exhibit B (the council vote will put the new rates into effect for April billing). Staff said the council will use the upcoming rate study to evaluate alternative structures (for example: how master‑metered HOAs should be billed per unit, separate commercial tiers, or changes to base charges) and then propose further adjustments if needed. The city also plans a public outreach campaign with conservation tips in utility mailings and communications to residents.
No new ordinance was required for the budget amendment; the fee schedule change was adopted by council vote. Staff will provide the council with station‑level usage and the consultant’s rate‑study timeline and will return with recommended policy changes informed by the consultant’s analysis.
