During and subsequent to completion of the Master Plan, the City has experienced rising costs of operation and maintenance of its water system, especially due to breaks in water lines which have quickly and repeatedly absorbed annual system repair budgets. Other incidental system costs are also rising and projected to rise, including additional operational efforts due to rising populations, legislative mandates, and development of water sources. These factors have caused the City Council and staff to look closely at the need for a rate increase to: 1) partially correct suppressed water rates resulting from approximately 18 years without a rate increase, 2) address growing operational and maintenance costs, and 3) more aggressively fund renewal and replacement projects on the aging system.
