Emporia city commissioners continued to discuss a 25 to 30 percent raise in sewer rates Wednesday, while Commissioner Bobbie Agler said an annual review was needed to prevent big hits like this in the future.
“Philosophically, I think it’s a mistake to only look at adjusting the rates every five to 10 years,” Agler said.
The city last raised meter rates in 2005 by $1.50 a month to help pay for expenses at the water treatment plant. The last usage increase came in 2003.
For a family of four in Emporia, the typical monthly sewer bill is about $22.19. A 25 percent increase would take that to $27.77, while a 30 percent increase would make the bill $28.83.
If that went into effect at midyear, the 25 percent hike would bring in another $407,485 for the sewer fund while the higher increase would bring in $488,391. Without any increase, the fund is projected to have revenues of $3,253,800 this year.
The rates are expected to come to a vote April 18. That meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the city commission chambers, 518 Mechanic St.
Like most utilities, the sewer fund is an “enterprise fund,” expected to pay for itself through fees and charges. But over the years, bonds have often been used to pay for equipment purchases or needed improvements. The rate increase is aimed at making the bonds unnecessary while still covering needed expenses.
The rate comes from two parts — a flat meter fee and a charge based on the amount of water used. I
At an earlier meeting, Commissioner Tom Myers had asked if only the usage charge could be raised, to encourage conservation and help those on fixed incomes. At Wednesday’s meeting, Administrative Services Director Larry Bucklinger said it could, but it would require a usage fee increase of either 38 or 45 percent.
“It would shift some of the burden to people with higher levels of use,” Bucklinger said.
Bucklinger asked Agler if he wanted to build in an “escalator” that would automatically increase fees by a small amount each year.
“I’d never agree to that,” Agler said. “We need a plan. If rates are increasing, the users deserve an explanation as to why everything is going up.”
“We need to play catch-up,” he said. “Let’s do it now. But we need to look at this and say ‘We will do a study every year and say whether there needs to be an increase based on factual data.”
In other action:
F Commissioners awarded an aerial photography bid to Western Air Maps for $61,700, well below the $125,000 that had been budgeted. The pictures will cover the whole metropolitan planning area. The pictures are used for a variety of purposes, from determining property lines to reviewing crime scenes.
F The commission reviewed two proposals to study the city’s needs under GASB45, the federal requirements for reporting post-employment benefits other than pensions. Proposals came from SilverStone Group of Omaha and Lewis & Ellis of Overland Park.
F Commissioners took their first look at a rough draft of the city’s capital improvement plan. The plan shows anticipated projects through 2012.
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