December 7, 2016
After a somewhat contentious City Council two weeks ago, where a small group of individuals challenged the Council on the approach concerning water rates and capital improvement funds, Mayor Richard Newton provided a thorough presentation to clarify any questions.
The accusations that the council was reducing water rates and ignoring future Capital Improvements had been the theme of criticism. However, Mayor Newton explained the approach in a slide presentation was, that in fact, the Council was not ignoring future Capital Improvements; but a strategy to fund projects through 2020, while then planning out the approach to fund projects thereafter.
The Mayor pointed out the tiered system actually had larger water users subsidizing the smaller users with much higher tiered structures causing some water bills with significant increases. The plan to have water provide at one rate to all users will be based on the actual cost, not the “profit center” that saw $1.2 million moved from the Water Department to the General Fund last year.
While the council, with the help of a citizens committee, will work on a Capital Improvement Plan “CIP” to address the future to ensure adequate funds will be generated to handled the estimated costs. The following reflects the Mayor’s explanation of the City Council’s Approach to the rate structure.
council-policy-approach-to-water-and-wastewater-rates-11-1-16-autosaved
The following reflects the Utilities Fund Presentation; utility-fund-resources-presentation-12-6-16-v4a
Mayor Newton explained if any citizens have additional questions that can contact him through email at: rnewton@colleyville.com .
