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Montrose council opens 2025 budget talks, weighs phased increases to water and sewer rates
Summary
At the Aug. 19 meeting the City of Montrose began preliminary 2025 budget talks focused on utility rates; staff and council discussed a 5% scenario (about $5.68 average-bill increase) and proposals to raise sewer base rates toward peer levels (cited at about $7.41 per 1,000 gallons), with concern about resident affordability.
City staff and councilors opened the 2025 preliminary budget discussion Aug. 19 by focusing on utility-rate options to fund major wastewater and future water‑treatment projects.
A council member summarized modeling scenarios, including a 5% across‑the‑board annual increase that would raise the average bill by about $5.68. “If you did 5% across the board, water, sewer, and storm, it would increase the average bill of $5.68,” the council member said. Participants also discussed raising the sewer base rate to align with neighboring rates (figures cited in the packet were around $7.41 per 1,000 gallons), and phasing increases over multiple years instead of one large hike to reduce immediate household impacts.
Speakers emphasized the fiscal necessity: staff said long‑deferred investment in wastewater and water treatment requires sustained revenue increases and recommended indexing annual adjustments. Council members pushed back on the size and timing of increases, noting potential household impact (examples cited of monthly increases of roughly $9–$10) and the political difficulty of immediate, steep hikes. “I don’t want to do that jump all at once,” one council member said, urging phased adjustments that are predictable for ratepayers.
Council agreed to continue the discussion, to revisit the water‑treatment plan in October, and to return with refinement of rate proposals for formal action in subsequent budget meetings.
