Camp Verde council considers usage-based sewer billing; staff to seek capacity-fee study, fixture rates to remain for FY27

Town of Camp Verde officials discussed potential changes to sewer billing on Jan. 28, 2026, including a usage-based option that would charge customers for gallons passing through water meters, but the council left sewer rates on the existing fixture-count basis for fiscal year 2027.

The presentation was led by Utilities Analyst Kristen Gressly, who outlined three options in response to public requests for metered or usage-based sewer rates. Option 1 would retain the current fixture-count model; Option 2 would introduce a usage-based structure with "a base fee for service maintenance with usage charges added onto the service base fee, charging for each gallon through the meter," and Option 3 would shift more of the revenue burden to capacity and septage fees so customers would pay less on routine bills.

"The presentation is for discussion to help further guide staff on the next possible steps to take in addressing public concerns on sewer usage rates," Town Manager Miranda Fisher said during the session.

Councilors asked staff technical and policy questions about fairness, implementation costs and the relationship between water consumption and sewer discharge. Utilities Director Lisa Vaughn and Wastewater Division Manager Chet Teague joined Gressly in responding to those questions. Fisher told the council the town currently has a contract with the Willdan Group to perform a development-impact-fees study and recommended asking Willdan to expand the scope to include a sewer capacity-fee study.

Council members agreed to ask the Willdan Group to evaluate capacity fees under an amended scope of work. Fisher also said the town will keep sewer billing on a fixture-rate basis for FY27 and reminded the public that both water and sewer rates increased effective Jan. 1, 2026, under the five-year rate plan the council adopted in 2023.

There was no formal vote recorded on rate structure reforms at the work session. Staff indicated the Willdan Group study and additional analysis would inform any future ordinance or ordinance amendment. The council did not establish a timeline for final action at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Next steps: staff will approach the Willdan Group about the expanded scope for a capacity-fee study; the council may consider ordinance language or rate adjustments after receiving that work product.