Council will proceed with water rate increase

By PHIL MONSON
HUMBOLDT - After discussion at their regular meeting on Monday night, Aug. 4, the Humboldt City Council gave the go-ahead to implement an increase in the water rate – the first increase in five years.

The council, which spent considerable time talking about water rates at their July 21 meeting, directed city administrator Cole Bockelmann to proceed with drafting an ordinance and formula to generate more revenue. The council will then vote on the matter over the course of three meetings before it is finalized.

The increase will offset a decline in water usage as well as increased costs to operate the water system.

The proposal calls for the minimum base rate to go from $14.46 to $20, accompanied by a 10 percent usage rate increase in year one, a 10 percent usage rate increase in year two and a five percent usage rate increase in year three. The base rate would remain at $20.

Residents and commercial users would see an increase of $8 per month or $100 per year. A water rate analysis over two years conducted by Wichita State University, at no cost to the city, recommended the city increase rates by 28 percent.

“The advantage by going with the base rate is that it is predictable. We are not relying so much on usage. Usage going down is a lot of the reason why we have lost revenue. We don’t like to do it, but we are doing it in a way that will spread it out over time rather than taking a hit all at once,” Bockelmann said.

“When we look at the rate comparison with other cities across the state, you can flip a coin and be all over the place. We are still right in line with state surveys and analysis,” Bockelmann said.

“I haven’t heard any negative comments on it,” Councilman Kirk Whittlesey said.

“Me neither. We haven’t had any rate increase since 2020. Everything else has gone up,” Councilman John Sleiter said. “Labor. Chemicals. Everything has gone up. I’m comfortable with increasing it.”

Councilman Jeff Harklau asked how the city finances looked in the areas of landfill and storm sewer.

“Garbage needs to go up. That’s less time sensitive. We have stabilized there,” Bockelmann said. “It has been a lot longer since it has been changed compared to water, but a dollar or two fee increase will probably be necessary in the next year or two.”

“Sewer is fine and I would say storm sewers are adequate for now,” Bockelmann said.

Read the full story in this week's issue of the Humboldt Independent!