Hearing Tuesday On Water, Sewer Rates

Proposed increases in city water and sewer rates will be the subject of a City Council public hearing on Tuesday night. City staff is recommending the water commodity (use) rate increase by 4.5 percent and the fixed water meter charge be increased by 7.5 percent. The staff report also recommends a 3.35 percent increase in the sewer commodity rate and a 3.25 percent hike in the sewer service charge. However, the temporary Drought Recovery Surcharge, in effect since January 2016, expired Dec. 30, meaning customers began receiving a 75-cent-per-unit break on their bills last month. A unit is 748 gallons. Assuming a single-family household uses 25 units of water the bi-monthly bill has included a $16.50 surcharge.