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Council authorizes $2.7 million bond for Auburn Water District to replace aging meters
Summary
Council approved a resolve allowing the Auburn Water District to issue a $2.7 million bond for a citywide meter replacement program; superintendent said new meters will report in real time and that the average customer impact is roughly $30 per quarter.
The Auburn City Council on March 16 voted to authorize the Auburn Water District to issue a $2.7 million bond to replace aging water meters and related work.
Superintendent Mike Broadbent told the council the district’s meters are 15–20 years old and that meter tests show some devices reading about 11–12% low. The district solicited bids, selected a new meter technology with a 20‑year guaranteed life, and said the new equipment will provide real‑time reporting that will allow customers and landlords to monitor usage and detect leaks faster.
Broadbent said the financial impact on a typical customer will be small — “less than a dollar a week,” or roughly $30 per quarter — after the district’s planned 8% rate increase that will support bond repayment and system maintenance. He added that Auburn’s water rates would remain among the lowest in the state even after the increase.
Councilors had questions about the district’s authority and guardrails; Broadbent and staff said the bond would not constitute municipal debt and would be repaid through district customer rates. The board of trustees had unanimously recommended the bond and the council approved the resolve by voice vote, recorded as 7 in favor and none opposed.
Councilors requested ongoing communication about rate timing and the district said it plans more regular, smaller increases in the future rather than occasional larger adjustments.
