Pueblo West board adopts 2026 budget, keeps mill levy and approves utility fee schedule with sewer readiness fee at 2025 level

PUEBLO WEST, Colo. — The Pueblo West Metropolitan District board voted Dec. 8 to adopt the district’s 2026 budget and approve a revised utility fee schedule, while holding the sewer "readiness to serve" fee at 2025 levels.

The board approved a resolution appropriating funds for 2026, listing total appropriated expenditures of $91,700,335 across general, capital projects and enterprise funds, and then adopted the budget as presented. Karen Cordova, finance director, told the board salary adjustments requested during the public hearing were included in the adopted budget.

The budget vote was followed by a separate motion to set the district’s mill levy at 20.23 mills (20.223 mills for operating and 0.007 mills for refunds/abatement on an assessed value of $462,658,840). Staff said keeping the mills unchanged this year would forego roughly $310,000 compared with a different calculation, and recommended maintaining the current levy level for now.

The board also addressed proposed water and wastewater rate increases after a public hearing and staff presentation. Jim Blazing, director of utilities, told the board: "We're proposing a 15% water increase, and a 5% wastewater increase," citing aging distribution systems, regulatory requirements and a multiyear capital program. Jeffrey Dahmer, identified in the transcript as deputy director of utilities administration, summarized household impacts, saying the average water-only customer would see a $6.40 monthly increase and a combined water-and-sewer customer about $9.52 a month under the proposed schedule.

Several directors and members of the public urged caution about adding readiness-to-serve fees or financing large capital programs through bonds. Public commenter Joe Mahaney praised the district website but urged the board to scrutinize long-term borrowing, saying bond financing would ultimately cost taxpayers more. Board members discussed whether to waive or defer components of the readiness-to-serve proposals but ultimately approved the fee schedule while maintaining the sewer readiness-to-serve fee at 2025 levels.

The board adopted the budget and fee schedule by voice votes that were recorded in the meeting as "Aye" and carried. The budget and fee schedule will take effect as specified in the district’s resolutions.

What’s next: staff will implement the adopted 2026 budget and utility fee schedule and return to the board for any required contract approvals or budget amendments tied to capital financing and project prioritization.