Tamarac staff asks to post 30‑day notice for proposed water/sewer rate increases amid infrastructure concerns

City finance staff asked commissioners April 6 to allow the statutorily required 30‑day public‑notice so they could advertise a possible FY27 rate increase recommended by a recent rate study.

The study proposed a multi‑year structure to build sufficient revenue for operations and capital needs, including an estimated replacement or purchase of a water‑treatment plant and repairs to aging mains and lift stations. Staff proposed a 15% water increase and a 5% sewer increase for the coming fiscal year, noting prior years’ decisions left a gap: the commission approved only CPI adjustments rather than the study’s proposed step increases. Staff said construction cost escalation has driven estimated plant costs well above prior figures.

Public Services staff described infrastructure needs: roughly 30+ miles of water mains under city responsibility and about 88 sewer lift stations. With current capital funding limits, the department said only a small number of lift stations can be rehabilitated in a multi‑year window; deferred maintenance and emergency repairs (including recent sanitary line events) raise both service and fiscal risk.

Commissioners voiced concerns about affordability and equity. Several members urged caution and said they would not support a broad 20% annual jump; others noted the city’s historically low rates relative to neighbors and the greater long‑term costs of delaying repairs. Staff committed to including irrigation‑meter impacts in notices, rolling out a customer portal to help residents monitor consumption, and to returning with exact ordinance language and outreach materials. The commission directed staff to post the required 30‑day notice and prepare the ordinance and hearings; final adoption will require subsequent formal action.