Carson City Utility Financial Oversight Committee to hear storm water increases Tuesday

The Utility Financial Oversight Committee will consider a storm water rate hike at its meeting Tuesday.

The Carson City Public Works department is proposing increases in storm water rates to raise about $1.3 million annually to fund a 10-year capital improvement plan (CIP) without requiring any debt financing.

The proposal is to bump up rates on single-family homes from the current $4.38 per month to $6.13 in fiscal year 2018 and $8.58 in 2019. For manufacturing properties, the rate would go from $29.38 to $41.13 and then $57.58 in the same time frame. For commercial users, the rate would increase from $31.51 to $44.11 to $61.75.

The five-member committee, which may meet quarterly, makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, who decide whether to implement the rate changes.

The committee was established in 2013 to help the board comply with adopted utility financial policies and to prepare annual utility budgets.

At the meeting, the panel will also discuss sewer, water and storm water fund budgets for the coming fiscal year.

The current storm water rates, according to the staff report, produce $1.3 million annually, enough revenue to fund operating and non-operating expenses but not capital improvements.

The proposed 10-year CIP includes $2 million for storm drain improvements on Carson Street from 5th Street to Stewart Street, about $1 million for fleet and $1.1 million in storm drain work near Empire Ranch, from Gordon Street to Morgan Mill Road, which experienced flooding during the recent winter storms.

The proposed program comprises 21 projects, mostly storm drain improvements throughout the city, costing an estimated $9.7 million.

In 2013, the supervisors approved a plan to phase in water and sewer rate increases over five years, but that did not include a hike in storm water rates.

The Utility Financial Oversight Committee meets at 1 p.m. in the Sierra Room, the Community Center, 851 E. William St.