Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Casey council adopts $7 monthly water fee to cover loan payments
Summary
The Casey City Council voted July 22 to add a $7 monthly flat fee to water bills starting with the Sept. 1, 2024 billing to cover anticipated loan payments for water-system investments; the council cited possible State Revolving Fund loan forgiveness that could reduce or eliminate the fee later. Council directed the clerk to notify customers and noted the city code will be updated during recodification.
The Casey City Council voted July 22, 2024, to add a $7 monthly flat fee to each water bill beginning with the Sept. 1 billing to help meet annual loan-payment obligations tied to planned water-system financing. Maggie Burger, a Speer Financial advisor who joined the meeting by Zoom, presented a financial analysis and recommended the flat fee option while noting the city could qualify for the State Revolving Fund Loan Forgiveness Program.
Burger told the council the city scored 16 points on the Socioeconomic Assessment Worksheet, which creates a possibility of receiving state loan forgiveness; without forgiveness, a 20-year loan would require higher revenues. The financial analysis presented three options: a 20% tiered rate increase (roughly a $10 monthly increase on an average bill), a $7 monthly flat fee, or a hybrid approach of a 7% tier increase plus a $5 flat fee. Burger recommended the flat fee because potential forgiveness could later reduce or eliminate the charge.
Councilmember Rick Richter moved to implement the $7 monthly flat fee; Councilmember Bret Wedemeyer seconded. The motion passed with Richter, Wedemeyer, Leland Acker and Rick Blake voting aye; Councilmember Schiller was absent. The motion sets the fee to begin with the Sept. 1, 2024 billing cycle. The council also directed City Clerk Gwen Blass to mail a notice about the change to each utility customer before that date.
The council’s action applies only to water charges and does not change sewer rates, officials said. City staff noted the City Code of Ordinances will be amended as part of an ongoing recodification process to reflect the new fee. No further public hearings or votes were recorded at this meeting; the council adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
What happens next: customers will receive written notice from the city before Sept. 1; the city will proceed with ordinance recodification to incorporate the new charge.
