Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montrose council approves package of water, sewer and stormwater rate increases
Summary
Council approved increases to water access, sewer access, and monthly/tiered water, sewer and wastewater rates, citing falling tax capacity and upcoming wastewater-plant costs shared with neighboring towns.
The City of Montrose approved a package of utility rate changes intended to shore up water, sewer and stormwater funds and to help finance future wastewater and road projects shared with neighboring jurisdictions. Council approved a water access charge increase from $3,000 to $3,700 (Resolution 2024-43) and a sewer access charge increase from $5,800 to $5,900 (Resolution 2024-44), and also approved changes to monthly and per-thousand-gallon rates across water, sewer and wastewater funds (Resolutions 2024-45 through 2024-48).
Councilors and staff said the increases respond to rising costs and a large upcoming wastewater-plant project. One councilmember explained the rationale: "we have a big debt coming up with the wastewater plant with Howard Lake, Maple Lake, and Annandale," and said it is better to prepare now than to be in debt later. Council members recalled staff estimates that the combined changes would raise a typical household bill by roughly $12–$15 per month when aggregated with other recent actions, though staff left exact averages to the posted rate schedule. Each resolution was moved, seconded and approved at the meeting.
