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Council adopts staff‑recommended 6.5% phased water rate plan instead of the modeled 13% hike
Summary
After staff reported water‑fund performance exceeded expectations, the council approved an amendment to the water utility fee schedule to spread excess funds and pursue a 6.5% phased increase rather than the 13% year‑one increase in the prior rate study.
Herriman City Council voted Nov. 12 to amend the city's water utility fee schedule, endorsing staff’s proposal to spread excess water‑fund revenue over multiple years and to model a 6.5% annual increase over four years instead of a immediate 13% jump recommended in the earlier rate study.
Kyle, presenting the rate analysis, said water rate revenues were about $2.2 million above the study’s model in the last fiscal year and operations saved roughly $1.7 million compared with expectations. Staff proposed using that excess to smooth future increases; the 6.5% approach aims to maintain reserve targets while reducing near‑term customer impacts. Kyle said sample residential annual bill impacts for the 6.5% proposal were roughly: low users +$38, medium +$44, high +$73 and very high +$101 (residential accounts without secondary water access).
Council discussion focused on whether last year’s unusually high summer usage should affect the timing of increases, capital project timing and debt service, and whether it is prudent to delay the larger increases until a clearer multi‑year trend emerges. Several councilmembers said they preferred smaller near‑term increases with regular annual reviews. After opening a public hearing (no comments), council approved the recommended amendment to the master fee schedule (Resolution R54‑0‑2025).
