City of Olympia - File #: 13-0792

• File #: 13-0792
• Version: 1
• Type: recommendation
• Status: Filed
• File created: 9/27/2013
• In control: Finance Committee
• Agenda date: 10/10/2013
• Final action: 10/10/2013
• Title: Agenda Item: Review 2014 Proposed Utility Rates
• Related files: 13-1021

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/10/2013	1	Finance Committee	received

Title
Agenda Item:
Review 2014 Proposed Utility Rates
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Develop recommendation to forward to full Council.

City Manager Recommendation:
Review the 2014 utility rate proposal and recommend the proposed rates to City Council for final review during budget deliberations.
Body
Issue:
Utility rates are considered annually as part of the Council's budget deliberations, with advance review and a recommendation from the Finance Committee.

Staff Contact:
Clark Halvorson, Public Works Water Resources Director, 360.753.8426
Dan Daniels, Public Works Waste ReSources Director, 360.753.8780

Presenter(s):
Clark Halvorson, Public Works Water Resources Director
Dan Daniels, Public Works Waste ReSources Director

Background and Analysis:
This year the City of Olympia is facing another challenging budget. As a result, we have been directed by the City Manager to take a "hold the line" approach to utility budgets and to develop rates that are focused on maintaining existing service levels and enhancing revenue stability.
Rate recommendations for 2014 reflect this direction. Where feasible, we have also sought to reduce expenditures and absorb inflationary increases in costs in order to lessen the need for rate increases in 2014.

2014 Rate Proposals
Storm & Surface Water Utility: 2% rate increase
The proposed 2014 Storm and Surface Water Utility budget is based on recently completed planning efforts and regulatory requirements under the NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) Phase II permit. The proposed 2014 budget incorporates various inflationary increases, but no major new initiatives or costs.

Stormwater rates are based on a flat-rate monthly charge for single family and duplex residential accounts. Other accounts including commercial, multifamily and institutional developments are charged based on the quantity of impervious surface on the site and the year of development. Ol...