Workshop (no decisions) meeting on utility rates
COMMISSIONERS 4-25-2024
Last year, if you remember, we were approached to look ahead to how we are going to start making up some
shortfall in income for upcoming larger Water & Wastewater projects. We were given 4 possible approaches:
1. Eliminate the Industry Standard ‘free water’ for the larger meters.
2. Required monthly fee for those vacant lots with pre-paid SDC’s but no meter installed (93 lots).
3. A premium imposed on the 125 licensed Vacation Rental properties.
4. Raise handling fee for Hotel/Motel/Restaurant from 5-10%
These items could create up to a $222,000 added revenue.
Through discussion about those other ideas were raised at the meeting:
1. Raise Commercial rates in Summer to subsidize added visitors
2. More water used pay more….. per unit/gallon
3. Give savings or credit for Conservation of water
4. Increase license fee for Vacation Rentals
5. Make changes so Residential users don’t subsidize Commercial users
Not a lot of time was spent in discussion. It was apparent that more time than just Commission meetings was
needed and a Workgroup was formed. Several meetings and outside hours from this group has produced a couple
of options to approach modifying the utility rates for more equability.
These two approaches you are going to be shown may or may not be the solution. They have attempted to meet
the goals we identified:
1. Better equity in charging for consumption.
2. Keep the approach simple and easy to understand
3. Encourage Water Conservation
4. Easy to implement
It is not to say that either approach is or is not a solution. You need to ask questions, you need to be able to
understand the approaches. Both of these will introduce a lot of information. Verify that you understand the
terminology they use. Keep in mind, as our discussions become more public you will be asked questions and
need to be able to answer them.
What do you as a Commissioner want to address in modifying the Utility Rates? What is important to you?
Undeveloped lots with no service
undeveloped lots with meter service installed
Single family residence full time occupied
Single family residence limited use, 2nd home
Single family residence as a Vacation Rental
Commercial Business with low volume water use
Commercial Business with high volume water use
Conservation
Year round or high visitor periods
Can you make an argument to Residents and Businesses to support a modification of rates and impact to them.
We will not be making decisions at this meeting. The goal is to hear options to date…….. better options may
come out of the discussion? If one of the approaches appears to be more workable, we need to identify that and
work to continue to develop that approach. We want discussion and questions.
There may additional items from just the 2 approaches to implement to raise income. These need to be brought
out as you brainstorm at the meeting. We will want to discuss further next month and on until we are all
comfortable in an approach. The overall approach and other ideas may need to be implemented in Phases. Keep
an open mind and think of the Community as a whole to improve our Water and Wastewater service
Comment Policy