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Kearney shifts water rates to base‑rate model; sewer and sanitation remain on multi‑year plans
Summary
Staff said the residential water base rate will increase from $10.34 to $12.75 monthly to stabilize revenue, sewer rates remain on a five‑year plan (7.5% total) to fund a wastewater upgrade, and a utility rate study is planned next year.
Kayla James told the council the budget includes several utility rate changes designed to provide a steadier revenue stream. "The residential base rate went from $10.34 last year to $12.75 this year," she said, noting the change is intended to decouple revenue from high consumption months and better align with peer communities.
James said the sanitary‑sewer rate plan continues as scheduled (part of a five‑year increase plan to fund a wastewater treatment‑plant upgrade) and that staff plans a utility rate study (the first in about 15 years) to examine water, sewer, sanitation and landfill rates comprehensively. She said the base‑rate increases are intended to leave typical residential consumption costs similar while strengthening monthly revenue predictability.
