The Nampa City Council on a split vote authorized a 10% increase to domestic water rates for fiscal 2026 and approved a 5% increase for irrigation rates after rejecting a proposed 10% irrigation hike.

City water officials — John Spencer, director of water resources, and consultant Chris Gonzales of FCS — told the council the increases respond to an aging system and large deferred maintenance needs. Spencer said the utility manages roughly $2 billion in combined water and irrigation infrastructure, with 160 miles of domestic pipe at or near end of life and an estimated replacement cost of roughly $1.2 million per mile. The city’s goal, he said, is to replace about 5 miles of pipe per year; current spending covers roughly 2 miles, creating an annual shortfall of about $8.4 million for domestic replacement alone.

Spencer and Gonzales presented multiple scenarios. A full master‑plan capital program would require significantly larger, front‑loaded rate increases in early years; a reduced capital plan supporting a smoothed approach would be financed by recurring 10% rate increases through FY30 and smaller adjustments thereafter, staff said. Council members pressed staff for alternatives: phased increases, grant opportunities, and whether targeted replacements could reduce the needed revenue.

No members of the public signed up to speak during the combined public hearing on domestic and irrigation rates. When the council took separate votes, the motion to approve the 10% domestic increase and authorize the mayor to sign the resolution (effective Dec. 1, 2025) passed 4–3 after roll call and the mayor’s deciding vote. An initial motion to increase irrigation rates by 10% failed; the council then approved a substitute motion for a 5% FY26 irrigation rate increase (effective Mar. 1, 2026), which passed on roll call.

Council members and staff agreed on the need for accountability: increased revenue will be tied to the capital improvement plan and reported through the annual budgeting process so that rate revenue intended for pipe replacement and pump‑station upkeep is tracked and visible to the council.

Next steps: the resolutions will be executed as authorized; staff will return as required during the FY26 budget process to show which projects the additional revenue will fund.