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Holdenville staff outlines proposal to raise water and sewer rates amid budget tightening
Summary
City staff told the council the budget has been balanced only by cutting capital outlay and that a 5% water-rate and 7% sewer-rate increase is proposed; staff said the minimum combined bill would rise to roughly $74.58 and that additional public notice and a hearing are planned.
City staff told the council on June 2 that a series of cost pressures — unpaid back bills, required consent‑order steps at the water plant and rising operating costs — have left limited options in the budget.
"But that is to raise the water rates 5%, The sewer rate, 7%." said the staff member (Speaker 3), who added the change would make the minimum combined bill rise to about $74.58 under the package presented.
Staff said the budget is otherwise balanced only after cutting all capital outlay and that the city will publish the budget for public hearing. The office server conversion needed for operations is scheduled for Monday, June 29, and staff said the office will be closed that day while systems are migrated.
Why it matters: the changes would increase recurring costs for residential and small‑business utility customers and are being proposed to sustain water and wastewater operations and to meet regulatory steps required by the state.
What’s next: staff said they will run the budget and proposed rate changes in the paper and schedule a public hearing; council discussed returning after June 16 to finalize the budget following public notice.
