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Park City defers water and sewer rate increases 
By David Dinell
Last Updated: January 29, 2015

The cost of providing water and sewer service to Park City residents and businesses is increasing. How and when that increase is going to be paid for will have to be decided soon as it's not a subject that's going away anytime soon. 

Members of the Park City council verbally wrestled with that topic at their Jan. 27 meeting. After an extended conversation, they decided to not put any increase in effect immediately, but return to the subject, most likely at their next meeting, Feb. 10. 

At issue is tackling the expenses now by increasing 2015 rates by 3 percent, or postpone it and find some way to cover the costs. 

The 2014 base rate for residential customers was $21 a month for water and $25.75 for sewer. For commercial customers, it was $24 a month for water and also $25.75 for sewer. 

A proposed rate increase would put that at $21.63 for residential and $24.72 for commercial for water and $26.52 for residential and commercial for sewer service. There also is a variable, which is the cost for water and sewer use above the base. 

For 2014, the city had $1.5 million in revenue for water with an expense of $1.4 million. It had a balance of $76,151, but that figure is projected to decrease by al least $10,000 this year. 

Sewer service, however, is where a bigger problem looms. 

During the past year, sewer revenue was $1.15 million and expenses were $1.14 million and the city had a balance of only $4,120 in its sewer budget. 

That figure is projected to slide into the red in 2015, according to Terry Coltrain, director of finance/city clerk, who presented the numbers to the council.

Park City buys its water from Wichita, which is facing a variety of complex issues leading to increased costs. Thus, some of that increase is being past on to other customers. Sewer costs have increased as Park City has dealt with infrastructure and cleaning issues. 

Council member Chris Johns was cautious about raising rates. 

"Our water is higher than Wichita's and Wichita is already high," he said.

He asked the staff to look into taking the shortfall from reserves rather than customers. 

However, council member John Lehnherr said the price has to be paid and incremental increases are the best route. 

"It's more prudent for us to do 3 percent this year, then 3 percent next year, rather than a 6 percent increase at once," he said. 

Mayor Ray Mann concurred. 

"Minimal increases are a good way to go," he said. "It'll will be enough to keep our head above water. We're not in this to make money, but to provide a service." 

City Administrator Jack Whitson proposed more time to figure out a wider variety of possible funding answers.

"I'm not ready to suggest that we increase the water rates (tonight)," he said. 

He found support with that as the council voted 8-0 to defer the issue to next month.





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