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Star Valley Ranch council finalizes budget details, agrees to water meter replacement and modest rate change
Summary
At its May 28 work session the Star Valley Ranch Town Council finalized several budget decisions ahead of the third reading, approving targeted additions for meter replacement, leak testing and equipment while agreeing to a smaller CPI-based water-rate increase instead of the $2-per-item proposal.
The Star Valley Ranch Town Council on May 28 approved several budget additions and sharpened plans for water utility upgrades ahead of the budget’s third reading.
Council members kept the sales-and-use tax reduction assumption at 8% and left the “fifth penny” revenue projection at a 3.5% increase in the draft third-reading budget, Town Council member Rand Bitter reported. Bitter also said the county’s property tax reduction figure is 22.3 percent.
The council agreed that Vista Drive paving funds have been restored in the draft budget but that actual completion could be delayed until 2026.
On utility finances, the draft budget now includes funding to install 15 new water taps in the coming fiscal year. Councilman Merrill proposed a $2 base-rate increase and a $2 water service-availability fee, but after discussion the council opted for a smaller increase tied to the consumer-price index and deferred consumption-focused rate changes for a later discussion.
Town Administrator Aitken and Councilman Bitter discussed maintaining operating reserves; Bitter proposed developing a 10-year water capital-project master plan to guide longer-term decisions.
Water Board member Boyd Siddoway urged a steady approach to rates. “It was important that rates go up consistently and that the water utility is self-sufficient and self-sustainable,” Siddoway said.
Financial Advisory Board member Rand Bitter and Public Works Director Edwards raised concerns about meter accuracy and water loss. Edwards noted some meters are more than 10 years old and manufacturers are discontinuing current models; one six-year-old meter recently failed and damaged a water heater. The council agreed to include $500,000 in the budget to replace meters, while the Water Utility Board requested additional testing before wholesale replacement.
The council also approved several targeted budget additions by consensus: $100,000 to purchase 10 water-efficiency main-line meters, $50,000 to fund a water leak test, and to retain $20,000 in next year’s budget for maintenance of a recently purchased dump truck. Administrator Aitken reported the town purchased a used dump truck for $20,000 from the current year’s budget and members discussed setting aside $35,000 to help fund a future vac truck purchase.
No roll-call votes on the individual budget additions were recorded in the work session minutes; council members signaled agreement during discussion.
What happens next: the council’s changes will be reflected in the materials for the budget’s third reading and further deliberation on meter testing, the long-term capital plan and consumption-based rate design will be scheduled separately.
