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Mountain View staff propose billing changes after audit; typical household could save while some seniors face small increases
Summary
After a utilities audit identified unbilled ADUs and undercharged commercial accounts, staff proposed reclassifying units and spreading sewer/trash costs more equitably. The plan raises fund revenue ~11% while yielding roughly $45 in typical residential savings; council asked for protections for seniors and an outreach plan.
Mountain View staff presented the findings of a utilities audit during a Nov. 18 workshop and proposed a set of rate and billing changes designed to align customer bills with actual usage and strengthen the utility fund.
Public works staff said the audit, begun in 2023, compared on‑the‑ground inventory to Metro Water Recovery records and the town's billing database and found that some accessory dwelling units and commercial meters were not correctly billed. "We decided we needed to do an audit ... and confirm how many residential addresses and ADUs we have in town," the public works coordinator said.
The change would spread sewer and trash costs over a larger, more accurate set of billing units. Staff estimated the recommended rate adjustments would increase total fund revenue by about 11% while the typical single‑family household with one cart would see a net saving of roughly $45 next year because of more accurate cost allocation. Staff also proposed eliminating two existing discounts — a senior discount and a pay‑in‑advance discount — which the town estimated cost about $4,000 annually. A staff example showed a typical senior could see a net annual rise of about $31 if the discounts were removed.
Council members raised questions about how online payers and residents who do not receive paper bills would be notified. Staff said they have a contact list of ratepayers with extra carts and will use a combination of bill inserts, social media and direct outreach. Council also asked staff to return with options for need‑based assistance rather than a categorical senior discount; the mayor suggested developing a needs‑based grant program and budgeting seed money.
No final rate ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff said the next step is to return a resolution for new rates at the December meeting, along with a coordinated communication plan to notify ratepayers and options for people who want to give up extra carts.
