Rainbow Water discusses rate increases Nov. 19

The Rainbow Municipal Water District will conduct a public hearing Nov. 19 on potential increases in water rates, operations and maintenance rates, and sewer rates.

A 4-0 board vote Aug. 27, with Bob Lucy absent, established the Nov. 19 hearing date. Rainbow staff had initially proposed a hearing date of Oct. 22, although the board and staff agreed that an extra month would be appropriate to review the financial data which will determine the rates.

“We realized we weren’t giving the Rainbow Budget and Finance Committee enough time to review it before it came to the board,” said Rainbow general manager Brian Brady.

The Rainbow board normally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, but due to the Thanksgiving holiday the November meeting will be on the third Tuesday.

The water and sewer rates are calculated based on the district’s cost of service analysis and conformance to generally accepted cost of service methods. The increases would allow the district to keep pace with annual wholesale water cost increases and the increased costs to provide sewer services. It was stated that all revenue derived from those rates and charges are used exclusively for the recovery of costs associated with providing water and sewer service, for the funding of Rainbow’s capital improvement program, and to maintain the district’s

financial stability.