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Rowlett council agrees to advance rate option that shifts more wastewater costs to commercial accounts
Summary
At a July 17 work session the council agreed by consensus to advance 'scenario 6' for FY27 utility rates, a structure that raises commercial wastewater base charges by meter size and would modestly lower projected residential increases; staff will include the option in the proposed budget and produce meter-size impact tables for public review.
Council members at a Rowlett City Council work session on July 17 agreed by consensus to advance a rate structure labeled "scenario 6" for inclusion in the FY27 proposed budget, after a consultant presented six modeling options.
Jason Gray, the consultant who presented the scenarios, told the council the model shows scenario 6 shifts more wastewater base charges onto larger meter sizes. Chair (speaking as the meeting’s presiding official) said the group should move forward: "I will go with 6 because that is the consensus" (Chair). Council members emphasized this was a policy direction to staff, not a formal ordinance or vote.
Why it matters: under the consultant’s FY27 examples, the average residential combined water/wastewater bill (7,500–7,900 gallons) rises from about $1.42 today to roughly $1.61 under scenario 6, while average commercial examples could rise from about $4.98 to $6.71 depending on meter size and usage. The consultant said reallocating more charges to commercial customers would generate roughly $200,000 in additional annual revenue.
Council asked staff to prepare clear, meter-size–specific average-bill examples for the public and to show the city’s budget presentation how scenario 6 impacts small businesses and multifamily properties. Staff emphasized the decision to advance scenario 6 will be part of the upcoming proposed budget outreach and that a formal adoption (if any) would occur through the budget and ordinance process.
