Title
Utility Budgets and Rates Briefing
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Briefing only. No action requested. The Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) is making
recommendations on the 2022 utility operating budgets, utility rates and general facility charges (GFC) at their October 7, 2021, meeting.
City Manager Recommendation:
Review and discuss the utility 2022 operating budgets, recommended utility rates and general facility charges.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the 2022 utility operating budgets, recommended utility rate and general facility charges. Action will be taken in mid-December as part of the budget approval process.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Public Works Water Resources Director, 360.570.3741
Gary Franks, Public Works Waste ReSources Director, 360.753.8780
Presenters:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director
Gary Franks, Waste ReSources Director
Background and Analysis:
The 2021 preliminary operating and capital budgets assume revenue and expenses from utility rates and GFC. Staff will present information on these topics and take questions from the Committee for future budget discussion meetings.
On September 2, the UAC discussed proposed changes to the 2022 operating budgets, rates and GFC for the four utilities - Drinking Water, Wastewater, Storm and Surface Water, and Waste ReSources. The UAC will make a recommendation on the budgets, rates, and GFC following their October 7 meeting. This recommendation will be shared with the full Council on October 19. The attached utility budget overviews provide information on key budget drivers, and utility trends, challenges and proposed enhancements.
Proposed 2022 Rate Increases
As outlined in the attached budget overviews, staff is proposing modest rate increases for 2022 broken down as follows:
* Drinking Water 1.0%
* Wastewater 6.0%
* Waste ReSources 0.0%
* Storm and Surface Water 5.0%
* LOTT Clean Water Alliance 3.0%
* Total 1.96% to 2.21%
A summary of historical and pro...
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