NORTH OGDEN -- Residents can sound off tonight about the city's proposal to raise utility rates $2.31 per month. The city council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers, 505 E. 2600 North.
The proposed rate increase is part of a five-year capital improvement plan that the council approved in June when it approved the annual budget. In the plan, the council decided it would raise rates every year for the next five years to complete necessary capital improvement projects, City Finance Director Debbie Cardenas said.
Part of the reason for the increase is that some funds are losing money every year.
"We have ongoing operating costs not being covered ... we are going in the hole every year," Cardenas said.
Several capital improvements are needed just this year. A new well, water lines that need to be replaced, stormwater runoff issues and sewer line replacements are just some of the items, she said.
When accounts such as water and stormwater are losing money, it's nearly impossible to make the extra repairs that are sorely needed, Cardenas said.
This year's proposed increases are coming from the sewer with $1.79 per month and 25 cents per month on both stormwater and garbage. The city decided to not raise the water rate this year because the major improvements needed aren't just for water.
"We don't want to raise rates just to raise rates," Cardenas said.
Cardenas didn't have official numbers of what the proposed rate increases would be.
A public hearing is required before the city can officially raise the rates.
Utility rates would have increased by about $5 per month if the bond on the public works complex had gone through at this time.
Cardenas said the plan was always to raise utility rates whether or not there was a bond for the public works complex.
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