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City staff outlines modest fee increases and utility rate changes ahead of October implementation
Summary
Finance Director Sydney Arnold presented proposed changes to city manual fees and utility rates, including a 10% rise to park impact (developer) fees, modest nonresident park/community center fee increases, cemetery fee adjustments, and a net average utility bill increase of about $5.96 on the example 7,300‑gallon bill.
Broken Arrow’s finance director reviewed proposed updates to the city’s manual fees and utility rates at the council meeting.
Sydney Arnold, finance director, said cemetery fees would increase roughly 2% while the city will remove the infant burial fee for children ages 5 and under. Park‑and‑recreation impact fees paid by developers would rise about 10% — staff told council those fees are routed to a special revenue fund used only for parks capital improvements. Arnold said the city had not raised those impact fees in many years.
Arnold outlined community center charges that would apply only to nonresidents: a proposed family membership of $45 per month (no charge for residents), individual nonresident $25 and a daily pass of $5; resident rental rates would remain unchanged. Several nonresident rental rates for city facilities and pools would increase; staff said those adjustments reflect rising operating costs.
On utilities, Arnold said the proposed changes keep increases small and phased. The proposal posted to council would raise water by about 1.25%, sewer by 8%, and add $1.50 to solid‑waste service; stormwater and streetlight fees would not change. Arnold used a 7,300‑gallon example to show the average monthly bill rising by about $5.96 under the proposed rates. She noted the new rates would not take effect until Oct. 1 if the council adopts a resolution next month.
Council members asked for a consolidated percentage figure for the overall manual‑fee package; Arnold said she could provide that summary before the next meeting. Councilor discussion framed the adjustments as limited and tied to operating and capital needs, including maintaining reserves and delaying some hires to reduce rate pressure.
The council accepted the staff direction to bring a resolution forward next month for formal consideration; Arnold said staff will return with the formal resolution and requested clarifying numbers requested by council.
