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Water and sewer rates in Blue Springs are going up, but don’t panic: It won’t be much.
The City Council unanimously agreed to raise rates, effective Oct. 1, a combined 4.5 percent, or 3 percent for water and 1.5 percent for sewer each year until Oct. 1, 2013.
The increase is good news, since for the past three years the city has raised both water and sewer rates 6 percent. The new increases are expected to generate approximately $170,000 annually for the water department and $80,000 for the sewer department.
In plain terms, a homeowner who uses 2,000 gallons or less per month will see an increase of 28 cents per month, while a heavy user (22,000 gallons per month) would see a $3.39 per month increase.
For most residents, that is about a 2 percent annual increase, or 50 cents per month, and as little as 30 cents per month for low users.
Stacy Miller, spokesperson for Public Finance Consultants, told the City Council that the city was able to keep the increases reasonable and below the metropolitan average because of city staff’s foresight and planning.
“This is pretty good budget news for a tough budget year,” Miller said.
In spite of waste water treatment plant expansions (which are under way) and a stubborn economy, Miller said the city avoided a significant increase by implementing long-range planning seven years ago.
For example, city staff adjusted administration and volume fees to reflect usage.
“Staff has been planning... that would allow the city to smooth out the rates,” Miller said.
The Sni-a-Bar plant is undergoing a two-phase renewal. One phase is the expansion from 6 million gallons per day to 10 million gallons per day; the second is the addition of tertiary filtration, a biological and filtering process designed to remove impurities and solids from the wastewater.
The plant is expected to be finished at the end of 2012.
The new increases weren’t all city-made; weather had some influence, Miller said, as had declining water and sewer usage, an average of 20 percent since 2006. That decrease was due in part to conservation efforts among residents and a stagnant home construction market.
In spite of the increase, Blue Springs remains below an eight-city average regarding water and sewer rates. When asked how the city compared to other cities regarding rate increases, Miller said the city maintained the same standing.
“I think this is pretty good news for you,” she said.
Water and sewer rates in Blue Springs are going up, but don’t panic: It won’t be much.
The City Council unanimously agreed to raise rates, effective Oct. 1, a combined 4.5 percent, or 3 percent for water and 1.5 percent for sewer each year until Oct. 1, 2013.
The increase is good news, since for the past three years the city has raised both water and sewer rates 6 percent. The new increases are expected to generate approximately $170,000 annually for the water department and $80,000 for the sewer department.
In plain terms, a homeowner who uses 2,000 gallons or less per month will see an increase of 28 cents per month, while a heavy user (22,000 gallons per month) would see a $3.39 per month increase.
For most residents, that is about a 2 percent annual increase, or 50 cents per month, and as little as 30 cents per month for low users.
Stacy Miller, spokesperson for Public Finance Consultants, told the City Council that the city was able to keep the increases reasonable and below the metropolitan average because of city staff’s foresight and planning.
“This is pretty good budget news for a tough budget year,” Miller said.
In spite of waste water treatment plant expansions (which are under way) and a stubborn economy, Miller said the city avoided a significant increase by implementing long-range planning seven years ago.
For example, city staff adjusted administration and volume fees to reflect usage.
“Staff has been planning... that would allow the city to smooth out the rates,” Miller said.
The Sni-a-Bar plant is undergoing a two-phase renewal. One phase is the expansion from 6 million gallons per day to 10 million gallons per day; the second is the addition of tertiary filtration, a biological and filtering process designed to remove impurities and solids from the wastewater.
The plant is expected to be finished at the end of 2012.
The new increases weren’t all city-made; weather had some influence, Miller said, as had declining water and sewer usage, an average of 20 percent since 2006. That decrease was due in part to conservation efforts among residents and a stagnant home construction market.
In spite of the increase, Blue Springs remains below an eight-city average regarding water and sewer rates. When asked how the city compared to other cities regarding rate increases, Miller said the city maintained the same standing.
“I think this is pretty good news for you,” she said.
