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Council hears FY27 enterprise budgets; staff flags large stormwater and wastewater rate increases
Summary
Staff presented second‑round FY27 enterprise fund budgets showing average utility bill impacts: combined water/wastewater/sanitation about an 11% increase (~$90 annually), water fund ~6% rate change, sanitation ~15% user‑fee increase, and stormwater ERU rate up ~63% driven by added capital transfer and regulatory requirements.
City staff presented a second draft of the FY27 enterprise operating and capital budgets for water, wastewater, sanitation, stormwater and program (EGRP) funds and answered council questions about drivers and options.
Jess (staff presenter) said the updated package uses data through January for wastewater flows and that a later March update will include water billing data. She summarized the combined effect: "an overall rate increase for water, wastewater, and sanitation, of about 11%, or $90 roughly on an average homeowner's bill." She explained that changes since the first draft were driven by outside rate notices (Champlain Water District), payroll and benefits, capital transfer increases and regulatory pressures on wastewater and stormwater.
On specifics, Jess said the water fund shows a roughly 6% rate change with a 3.7% budget increase and that Champlain Water District communicated a FY27 wholesale rate that came in at about 5.6%. She described wastewater as showing a small budget increase but a larger user‑fee effect and said sanitation includes a capital transfer increase to address pipe lining and infiltration. For stormwater she flagged an operating increase near 55% and a proposed ERU rate increase of about 63%, driven in part by adding a $150,000 capital transfer to meet MS4 permit responsibilities.
Councilors asked whether phasing or deferring projects could reduce bill impacts; staff said the presented numbers reflected the lowest comfortable level that still meets permit deadlines and capital needs. The presentation closed with staff planning another update before the March meeting and a planned rate‑setting hearing in April.
