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Brigham City raises monthly water base to $30, approves modest overage increases
Summary
After extended debate about utility funding and capital needs, the council set the monthly base water charge for a 3/4- to 1-inch meter at $30 and raised overage tiers by $0.50; staff warned overage revenue fluctuates with weather and usage.
Brigham City Council voted June 18 to amend the consolidated fee schedule (Title 5), setting the monthly base water charge for a standard 3/4- to 1-inch meter at $30 (up from $23) and increasing per-unit overage charges by $0.50 for each tier.
Staff presented a rate study and revenue estimates, explaining the increases support system maintenance, planned meter replacement and other capital needs. Public Works staff noted that meter replacements are approaching the end of a typical 15-year life cycle for thousands of meters and that construction and installation costs have risen sharply in recent years.
Council debate focused on the balance between preserving utility-fund capacity for long-term infrastructure projects and minimizing immediate household cost impacts. Some council members argued a higher base rate is necessary to avoid deferring capital maintenance; others pushed to keep more revenue inside the utility and to avoid shifting recurring expenses to ratepayers.
An amendment adopted with the motion raised the overage tiers by $0.50; staff said overage revenue is highly usage-dependent and therefore volatile year-to-year, making it a poor sole source for ongoing general-fund obligations. The council directed staff to publish the fee schedule updates and notify customers of the changes.
The ordinance change was approved by roll call; staff and council said implementation steps and customer notices will follow ahead of billing changes.
