After proposing an increase in both the water and sewer user rates at last week’s budget workshop, City Administrator Keith Moody presented an ordinance before the board of aldermen on Tuesday evening for adoption.
In a unanimous vote by the board, the aldermen gave approval for the increases in the utility rates to ensure a balanced budget.
According to Moody’s report, despite the water fund being balanced, he felt an increase was needed to offset the rising costs of bill production.
The board gave approval to an increase of 5 cents for the first 1,000 gallons of water used. This raises the rate on the first 1,000 gallons from $5.25 to $5.30
The rate on water consumed after the first 1,000 gallons will not change, remaining at $4.90 per 1,000 gallons.
The sewer rate increase will amount to 15 cents additional on the first 1,000 gallons of water used, with 5 cents of that increase covering bill production costs and the other 10 cents covering increases in operating expenses.
The new sewer rate on the first 1,000 gallons will be $3.15. The sewer rate for additional gallons of water used will not change, remaining at $2.75 per additional 1,000 gallons.
Moody told the board of aldermen that the proposed rate changes would equate to a 60 cent increase in a customer’s bill if they used 6,000 gallons, which is the average household consumption of water a month.
Monthly user charges for sewer shall be based on water metered during the current month. The user charge shall be for operation and maintenance, including replacement of the wastewater treatment operation of the City of Platte City or its contractors.
Sewer users outside the corporate boundaries, but connected to the Platte City water system will be charged $3.84 for the first 1,000 gallons and $3.44 for every 1,000 gallons consumed after the first 1,000.
Persons living outside the corporate boundaries of Platte City that are connected to the city water system will be charged $7.63 per month for the first 1,000 gallons. All water consumed after the first 1,000 gallons will cost $6 per 1,000 gallons.
Moody proposed no rate increase for the refuse rates because the refuse operating fund is balanced.
The new rates will become effective November 1, 2005.