Utility rate increases would cost ‘typical’ Kalamazoo residential customer $56 per year - mlive.com

KALAMAZOO, MI — Water and wastewater rates are increasing, based on proposed numbers from a presentation given to the Kalamazoo City Commission.

Combined water and wastewater rate increases would cost a typical residential water user in the city of Kalamazoo an additional $4.71 a month, or $56.52 a year under the proposed rate increases. The increases would equate to an increase of $3.18 a month ($38.16 a year) for homes outside the city, according to estimates provided by the city based on the city’s definition of a typical utility customer.

Commissioners discussed the proposed utility rates at a special meeting of the Kalamazoo City Commission on Jan. 13, at the Water Reclamation Plant, 1415 Harrison Street.

The rate increases are needed, in part, to fund a number of projects planned over the next five years, according to a presentation by Bart Foster of The Foster Group and city staff.

Investments are planned over five years for treatment plant improvements such as optimizing and automating chemical feed systems, as well as building additional water storage facilities or water towers, and replacing water meters with smart meters, Public Services Director James Baker said. The city will continue to invest to replace lead service lines each year.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said a lot of things are driving the costs.

“At the end of the day we want to be sure we’re delivering good clean water to everybody," Chamberlain said. He emphasized the importance of Kalamazoo’s water and wastewater system that serves residents in many communities outside of the city.

“It’s really important we do this right and, as James said, we need to do it right every day,” Chamberlain said.

Commissioner Chris Praedel asked for consideration of families that are already struggling as it is, and may have a hard time paying for the increases.

City staff will create an ordinance based on the proposed utility rates, with calculations for various categories of customers, which will be presented to the Kalamazoo City Commission on first reading Feb. 3, and proposed for action on Feb. 17, Chamberlain said.

City staff provided estimates only at Monday’s special meeting, and said full details of rates for different customer types will be included in the proposed ordinance.

The rate increases would equate to a 14 percent increase in revenue for the water system, and a 10 percent increase for the wastewater system, according to Foster.

In 2019, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved increases to raise 4 percent more revenue for the city’s water system and 5 percent more revenue for its wastewater system compared to the previous year.

The proposed $201.6-million city budget is on the Kalamazoo City Commission’s agenda for the next regular meeting, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20, at Kalamazoo City Hall, to be considered for adoption.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"typical" - Google News
January 15, 2020 at 04:21AM
https://ift.tt/2QTgiwj

Utility rate increases would cost ‘typical’ Kalamazoo residential customer $56 per year - mlive.com
"typical" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MUAcon
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini