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Committee backs two-year water increase, one-year sewer bump to shore up funds
Summary
Public Works presented a rate study recommending a $2 base increase and higher consumption charges; the committee voted to propose splitting the water increase over two years and adopting the sewer increase in year one to close projected shortfalls.
Public Works staff presented recommendations from a rate study intended to bring the water and sewer funds out of deficit and fund upcoming capital needs, including tower recoating.
Agency official Josh (speaker 9) said the consultant recommended adding $2 to the water base rate and raising the consumption charge to $8 per 1,000 gallons, and adding $0.50 per 1,000 gallons on the sewer side. “If you were to do this all in one year, you're looking at a $32 bill a month” for a residential customer using 3,000 gallons, Josh said, and noted a two‑year split would smooth the impact.
Josh told the committee the full proposal would yield roughly $197,000 additional annual revenue for water and $21,000 for sewer compared with current shortfalls. After discussion about timing and customer impact, the committee voted to propose the water increase over two years and the sewer increase for year one; staff was authorized to work with the city attorney to draft the ordinance for council consideration in January.
Committee members emphasized that the recommendation was driven by aging infrastructure and projected capital work, and that staff should present the ordinance with clear consumer impacts and an implementation date.
