Water & Sewer Rates Increase March 1, 2023
Summary of Information
The City of Veneta manages municipal water and wastewater (sewer) systems. The cost of providing these services is funded by revenues from associated user fees (rates), system development charges, and grants. The largest and most significant revenue source supporting these services is user fees. In the Fall of 2022, the City selected a utility rate consultant to analyze the cost of providing these services and develop a corresponding water and sewer rate schedule through 2028. As a result of that analysis, the consultant recommended that the City increase its water rates by 3% and its sewer rates by 2% annually through 2028. The Veneta City Council concurred with the consultant and passed resolutions increasing utility rates accordingly at their January, 9 2023 meeting. Rate increases will take effect on March 1, 2023. Customers will see the rate increase on their March bill, which they receive in April.
Water customers are charged a monthly base fee and a variable fee determined by the amount of water they consume. A customer that uses 5,000 gallons of water per month would currently pay $36.35 a month. A 3% increase translates to an additional $1.09 a month and a total bill of $37.44.
A sewer customer currently pays a monthly base fee of $63.66. A 2% increase translates to an additional $1.27 a month and a total bill of $64.93.
Water and sewer customers also pay a monthly transportation utility fee, stormwater fee, and public safety fee. The total bill for a utility customer using 5,000 gallons of water a month is currently $109.65. The water and sewer rate increases translate to an additional $2.36 a month and a total bill of $112.01.
How did the City Decide its Utility Rates?
The City selected a water and sewer rate structure after estimating the current and long-term costs of providing those services. Currently, the City's water and sewer system rates support the increasingly expensive costs of ongoing materials, services, and personnel required to maintain a quality level of service. In the long-term, the City accounts for the costs of upcoming projects to increase the water and sewer system's capacity to support a larger community in the future. Several projects, including a major expansion to the City's sewer plant (estimated $4 - $6 million expense) and the construction of additional water reservoir on Bolton Hill (estimated $2.5 - $3 million expense) are anticipated in the near future.*
The City is able to avoid debt-financing upcoming projects and raising rates at a higher percentage in the future by increasing rates at a sustainable pace in the present. Community members can read the City's draft water and wastewater study at the bottom of the page to learn more about how the City came to consider utility rate increases.
Low Income Assistance
The City of Veneta offers financial assistance to qualifying low income utility customers. Customers are eligible to receive assistance based on qualifying income levels. Learn more by visiting this page: Low-Income Assistance Page
Still Have Questions?
Email Management Analyst Cole Haselip: chaselip@ci.veneta.or.us
Call Management Analyst Cole Haselip: 541-935-2191
Additional Information
*Community members can learn more about future water and sewer system capital improvement projects by reading the water and wastewater masterplans at the bottom of this page.
Key Documents