ORDER-2024-36 : Proposed FY25 Water Rates

Transcript (~3 min @ 2:09:50)

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▶ 2:09:49 Maya Jamaleddine: orders 2024 dash 36 proposed FY 25 water rates.

▶ 2:10:14 Speaker 6: So the water and sewer rates are, are all shown in the memo that we provided.

▶ 2:10:21 Speaker 9: Um, and

▶ 2:10:23 Speaker 6: as we said in the presentation, uh, the recommended for the average Melrose Household, the recommended rate change would result in a 4.8%, um, increase to the average bill. We're happy to answer any questions.

▶ 2:10:39 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Do we have any question from my colleagues?

▶ 2:10:45 Maya Jamaleddine: Cons? Um, vice Chair Williams.

▶ 2:10:47 Ryan Williams: So I'm actually gonna, um, ask a question that came up, um, between a discussion between Councillor Gepe and myself, um, which was, uh, do we feel that if the override doesn't pass, that there will be enough money available for this budget with these rates to cover its costs?

▶ 2:11:05 Speaker 6: So the good news with the enterprise funds is that they are completely, as I mentioned earlier, completely self-sustaining. So they're outside of the general fund. They're not impacted by the override. Um, and the rates that we've recommended, we, as you can see from the memo, um, or actually an earlier memo that we had also distributed to the council. The on the sewer side, we're being a little less conservative because we're hoping that people will use a little more water at least this year than they did this coming year than they did last year. Um, but we have a little flexibility, we have a little more retained earnings on the sewer side, so we feel comfortable with that. Um, otherwise the rate change would've been over 6% and we thought, or 5.9% I think, and we wanted to keep it a little bit lower. So we're being very conservative on the water side, assuming that we're gonna have the same usage as fiscal 24.

▶ 2:12:00 Speaker 8: Um, and yeah.

▶ 2:12:01 Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you Counselor Gpe,

▶ 2:12:07 Mark Garipay: Just to clarify, the existing enterprise fund will cover, should cover any potential shortfall. You won't have to come for free cash to the city.

▶ 2:12:17 Speaker 6: I think that Was correct. They, they could come from water and sewer free cash, but that's free cash generated within those funds. Thank you.

▶ 2:12:25 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. Any other question?

▶ 2:12:29 Maya Jamaleddine: What is the will of the committee,

▶ 2:12:33 Robb Stewart: Madam Chel, or Motion to Recommend to full counsel? Order 2024 dash 36.

▶ 2:12:38 Maya Jamaleddine: Second, We have a motion to recommend, um, order number 2024 dash 36, made by Counselor Stewart, seconded by Counselor Gpe. On discussion. Seeing none, Mr. Clerk,

▶ 2:12:52 Speaker 5: Vice Chair Williams? Yes. Councillor Gpe? Yes. Councillor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Bruski. Yes. Councillor Hamilton? Yes. Councillor Vandiver. Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Council Naro? Yes. President Elli? Yes. And Chair Jamine? Yes. Uh, motion passes unanimously.

▶ 2:13:12 Maya Jamaleddine: Perfect. Thanks. Uh, order 2024 dash 35 Post, uh, F1 Ffy 25 Sewer rates.