Burnet hiking water/sewer rates
The city of Burnet is implementing a two-step, 20-percent rate increase for water and sewer services, with the initial step made June 1. This is the first rate hike for those city utilities in more than a decade.
As of Sunday, Burnet residents will see a 10-percent increase to their minimum water rate, volumetric water rate, and sewer rate. Another 10 percent hike kicks in on Oct. 1. Based on an average household use of 5,000 gallons per month, residents could see around a $20 increase on their monthly utility bill once the full rate hike goes into effect this fall.
The Burnet City Council voted to implement the increases during its regular meeting May 27.
According to city leaders, water rates have not been raised since 2011 and sewer rates since 2012. The rising costs of running municipal utilities are now forcing a price hike.
“The reality is that it was great that we were able to hold off an increase this long, but we probably should have done smaller increases along the way,” City Manager David Vaughn told DailyTrib.com. “Over the last four years, the costs have just pushed the revenue side.”
Vaughn explained that several factors contributed to the overall 20 percent increase for water and sewer rates, including consistent repairs and upgrades for the city’s 40-year-old water treatment plant, rising costs for personnel, and general increases across the board stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increase is expected to bring in an extra $950,000 annually, which will be reinvested into the city’s water and sewer infrastructure.
RESOURCES: The full ordinance that triggered the rate change begins on page 128 of the Burnet City Council’s May 27 meeting agenda packet. The city’s previous water/sewer rates can be found here.