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Huntsville Council OKs $8,000 water-rate study to guide possible rate changes
Summary
Town Council voted 5–0 to hire Zions Public Finance for a water‑rate and impact‑fee study to document actual costs, support rate adjustments and improve grant eligibility. Staff and the water board said current revenues and repeated leaks suggest rates are likely below long‑run costs.
Huntsville Town Council on May 1 approved up to $8,000 to hire Zions Public Finance to prepare a water‑rate and impact‑fee study that officials said will help the town set rates and demonstrate financial need when applying for grants. Town Clerk Beckki Endicott told the council the study would take roughly three to four weeks and provide the “solid information” needed to justify any rate changes and to support grant applications.
Water Board Chair Ron Gault framed the request as part of an effort to stabilize the culinary water system after repeated leaks and rising maintenance costs. He warned auditors and grant reviewers that current rates may be “way too low” relative to system needs; the council approved the study unanimously to produce a defensible revenue and impact‑fee analysis. The study proposal from Zions (quoted at $8,000, or $10,000 if staff must aggregate usage-tier billing records) will also be used to inform future council discussions about base-rate and overage changes.
