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Water board approves $16.15 million FY27 budget; water rate held at $4.24 per CCF
Summary
At its March 4 joint meeting with the sewer commission, the water board approved a $16,151,881 fiscal year 2027 budget without changing the existing water rate of $4.24 per CCF. The board also approved leak abatements and accepted a monthly Westport billing report before adjourning.
At its March 4 joint meeting with the sewer commission, the water board approved a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget of $16,151,881 and kept the water rate at $4.24 per CCF.
The budget presentation, delivered by the clerk, said no rate change was proposed because higher water usage and several grants reduced the need for a rate increase. “The proposed budget for FY27 for the water department is $16,151,881,” the clerk stated, and added that the current ordinance-setting rate of $4.24 per CCF remains unchanged.
Why it matters: the approved budget funds operations for the coming fiscal year while maintaining customer rates. The clerk told the board that increased usage from newly occupied units and services to outside communities generated revenue that, together with grant funding, helped offset cost pressures.
Board discussion and key details: board members asked for clarification on several line items. The clerk said chemical costs came in below projections during the last bidding cycle and were reduced in this year's budget. He also flagged electricity as a notable cost increase, saying the city's four-year supplier contract with Constellation moved the effective electricity price from about $0.09 per kilowatt-hour to roughly $0.12 per kilowatt-hour for the utility. The clerk told members that debt-service payments decreased because several earlier loans are maturing and because grants, including an ARPA-funded lead-service replacement award, offset capital borrowing projected for FY27. The clerk also noted a $60,000 retirement buyout line in the administrative section, saying he is projecting up to three retirements in water administration next fiscal year.
Votes at a glance: - Minutes of the previous meeting: motion made, seconded and approved by verbal assent (individual vote counts not specified). - Leak abatements: the board approved proposed leak abatements totaling approximately $12,254, bringing the fiscal-year total to date to $42,632.54. - FY27 water department budget (16,151,881): motion to approve the FY27 budget was made, seconded and approved by the board; the water rate remains $4.24 per CCF. - Westport billing review: the board accepted the monthly Westport billing and statement as current and up to date; motion approved. - Adjournment: motion to adjourn carried.
The meeting closed after acceptance of the Westport billing report and the board adjourned.
