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Council adopts water‑rate increases and fee changes to stabilize Water Enterprise Fund
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 57‑2026 to increase tiered water rates and add/adjust fees intended to keep the Water Fund solvent; staff warned the fund could be negative by 2029 if rates were not adjusted. Council modified bulk‑water deposit rules and approved the resolution 7–0.
Monument's council voted to adopt a package of water‑rate and fee changes intended to shore up the Water Enterprise Fund and fund operations and capital projects.
Finance staff presented a water‑rate study and recommended a tiered approach: no change on usage from 0–3,000 gallons, a 10% increase for 3,001–24,000 gallons and a 15% increase for customers using more than 24,001 gallons. Jennifer Phillips said the study was prepared with a third‑party consultant and warned that "the Water Fund will begin to really experience problems in 2028 and basically be in the negative by the end of 2029" if rates remained unchanged.
The package included administrative changes: new billing fees for bulk residential and commercial customers, a proposed refundable deposit for bulk water users (staff initially recommended $500), adjustments to late fees and a proposed backflow noncompliance fee for commercial accounts. Council debated whether to set a single deposit amount for all bulk users or a tiered approach and ultimately settled on a modification: a $2.50 refundable deposit for residential bulk users and $500 for commercial/construction users (to be reflected in the resolution attachment).
Council adopted Resolution 57‑2026 with the noted change and asked staff to return with a water master plan and any additional adjustments as the town refines long‑term system needs.
