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Montrose council begins 2025 budget talks, weighing phased water and sewer rate increases
Summary
City staff proposed options for water and sewer rate changes to fund a large wastewater project; councilmembers debated phased base-rate hikes vs across-the-board increases and expressed concern about impacts on residents.
Council opened a discussion of the 2025 preliminary budget with staff urging the council to begin with utility-rate decisions because rate structure will drive revenue for capital needs. Staff presented options including a 5% annual across-the-board increase or stepped base-rate increases to move the city’s per-thousand sewer rate toward peer levels referenced in the packet (figures around $7.38–$7.41 per thousand).
Mayor Console and other councilmembers said the city needs to plan multiyear adjustments so the city is not forced into a single large hike later. One councilmember warned that a big one-time increase would "smack" residents and prompt many phone calls; another recommended a transparent, predictable schedule so customers know what to expect. Staff noted an average-bill increase estimate of about $5.68 under a 5% across-the-board scenario but also described alternatives that raise the fixed base rate first to stabilize revenue.
Discussion also connected rate choices to the capital wastewater project referenced by staff. Councilmembers stressed the need to explain clearly to residents what the increased revenue will pay for — wastewater plant and water-treatment needs — and debated timing to avoid saddling customers with sudden higher bills while making sure the city can pay for critical infrastructure.
Next steps: council signaled support for further analysis and a multiyear rate plan to be discussed in subsequent meetings, with a targeted outreach plan to explain proposed changes to residents.
