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Council reviews water and sewer budgets and meter-size fee changes; most residential customers see CPI-based rise
Summary
Finance staff presented water and sewer fund budgets that include CPI-driven fee increases and an $80,000 infrastructure-fee change tied to meter size; council confirmed most residences will see a modest CPI increase and discussed circuit-breaker and senior discounts.
City finance staff and the city engineer presented a high-level review of the FY 2026–27 water and sewer budgets and a related proposal to set fixed fees by meter size.
Finance Director Paulette told the council the revenue lines in both funds include standard CPI increases required by current ordinance and that the water fund also reflects an additional $80,000 tied to infrastructure-fee changes due to meter size. She said the city will make the final debt-service payment on a loan—reducing debt service—and noted the projected sewer-fund balance is about $7.576 million while reminding members capital needs remain significant.
City Engineer Dennis Carr said the meter-size fee structure targets larger users so those with ability to use more water shoulder more of the infrastructure cost. "The intent ... is to put the burden of the potential water use on the users that have the ability to use it," Carr said, noting most single-family residences would see only the CPI-based increase effective on the May 1 bill.
Paulette confirmed discounts: a circuit-breaker discount and a senior discount (about 10%) apply to the fixed fee, and she said seniors are defined in city practice at age 62. Council members expressed support for the approach — capturing revenue from larger users while protecting typical residential customers — and asked staff to incorporate the meter-size fee structure into an ordinance for the May 1 effective date.
No ordinance was adopted at the March 9 meeting; council members said staff have direction to prepare ordinance language and related materials for formal consideration.
