Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The City Council adopted an average 13-percent sewer and water rate hike at its regular meeting on June 26.
The new rates took effect on July 1.
Sewer and water rates are composed of two parts, the base charge and the commodity charge. The base charge is a fixed amount that pays fixed costs, costs that do not change based on the amount of service provided. The base charge also includes the first 400 cubic feet of water each month, something the City Council set up to minimize the impact of rate changes on lower-income users and senior citizens living on fixed incomes.
The base charge for water will increase from $17 per month to $17.69 per month. The base charge for sewer increases from $19 to $24.29.
After the first 400 cubic feet, the city imposes a commodity charge on residential customers for water used. Commercial and industrial customers do not receive the first 400 cubic feet as part of the base charge.
The water rate, or commodity charge, increases by 43 cents to $4.61 and the sewer rate increases by 45 cents to $5.60 per 100 cubic feet of use.
To calculate a bill, multiply the number of hundred cubic feet by the water and the sewer rates and then add the two base charges.
For example, at 759 cubic feet (5,662 gallons), the average monthly use by residential customers, subtract the first 400 cubic feet, and then multiply 3.59 by the rate per hundred cubic feet, $10.21. Add the base charge, $41.98, to find the monthly bill for average usage. The average user would pay $78.43 per month under the first option.
The total cost amounts to approximately 1.4 cents per gallon, Public Works Director Mike Adams said.
The city has budgeted $1.458 million to operate its water utility for 2007-08 and $1.794 million for wastewater.
The rate increase pays the full cost of operating the water and sewer plants and distribution system, Adams said.
The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. Present at the meeting were Bob McIntire, Jim Gourley, Eric Markell, Jim Bean, Scott McKee Jr., Rich Rowley and Mayor Craig Fentiman.
In other business, the council:
– Appointed Dave Holley to the Board of Appeals.
– Reappointed Betty Wadsworth and Lelia Cole to the Library Board.
– Approved a liquor license for the Santiam Café, located at the intersection of 13th and Main.
– Certified eligibility to receive state revenue sharing.
– Authorized the transfer of funds from the General Fund contingency to various department expense lines in the General Fund.
– Approved street closures, permits and plans for the Oregon Jamboree to be held the first weekend in August.
– Approved a contract with the city’s general employees, including a 4-percent salary increase in 2007-08 and 2008-09. It also includes a 2-percent raise on July 1, 2009 and another 2 percent on Jan. 1, 2010.
– Approved a 4-percent raise for non-represented employees with a 1-percent merit increase for non-represented management employees and 2-percent merit increase for non-represented police management employees after eight years to maintain wage differentials between management and union staff.
– Approved a resolution adopting the city’s budget for 2007-08.
– Approved a resolution adopting supplemental budgets for the 2006-07 fiscal year.
– Held the first reading of an ordinance to rezone property located off Nandina Street, across the railroad tracks northwest of Safeway, from low-density residential to medium-density residential.