Longmont City Councilmember Tim Waters urged city officials to prepare an education campaign for Longmont residents who are likely facing rate increases to fund the city’s storm drainage and electric programs.
“Let’s look at where we are and let’s have some specific examples we can show,” Waters said during the work session.
Deputy City Manager Dale Rademacher told Waters the city is prepared to make its case about the affordability of its utilities compared to similarly-sized cities.
“I believe we stack up very well,” Rademacher said.
The exact amount of rate hikes were not discussed in detail Tuesday night. Proposed rates and fees for next year will be brought to the city council in August.
The city’s current rate study proposes a two-year schedule of rate hikes for Longmont’s electric utility for 2022-23 and a three-year schedule for rate increase is proposed for the storm drainage program.
The city’s storm drainage fund is facing special funding challenges because the September 2013 flood prompted a special election to authorize additional debt to make improvements to the St. Vrain Creek to protect lives and property, according to a city staff report.
New funding is needed to maintain the “integrity” of the storm drainage system, Rademacher told the council.
