City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 01/11/2022
Subject: Utility Rate Study - Enterprise Funds Year 2 Update RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff is recommending the City Council approve implementing the full rate increases for the water (2%), sewer (4%) and garbage (5%) enterprise funds approved in the 2020 5-Year Rate Study, as of February 1, 2022.
BACKGROUND:
The City uses “enterprise funds” to account for the financial activities of the water, sewer, and garbage services provided to the residents and businesses located in Ripon. Each enterprise fund is an independent budget that operates much like a private business enterprise. Each fund collects the revenue from the utility customers to fund the operations of the utility service along with the replacement of capital items.
In accordance with Proposition 218, in 2020, the property owners within the City limits approved rate increases of the water, sewer, and garbage enterprise funds to take effect February 1st of years 2021-2025, as summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 - 2020 5-Year Rate Study Proposed Rate Increases Utility 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Water 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Sewer 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
Garbage 5% 5% 5% 4% 4%
Total 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% 3% 3%
The City Council has directed staff to bring back each year prior to February 1st, a financial evaluation of each enterprise fund to determine if the full rate increase that was initially approved is necessary for each enterprise fund.
DISCUSSION:
The rate increase included in the 2020 5-Year Rate Study was implemented on February 1, 2020 as proposed. Tom Pavletic with Municipal Financial Services (MFS) has prepared the financial evaluation for the February 1, 2022 enterprise fund rate adjustments, which is attached.
This evaluation is recommending the City Council approve implementing the full rate increases approved in the 2020 5-Year Rate Study for February 1, 2022. The combination of water (2%), sewer (4%) and garbage (5%) rate increases have an overall effect of a 3.5% utility rate increase on the monthly bill of an average single-family customer. The graph below shows a singlefamily monthly bill with the approved 2022 rate increases included.
Figure 1 – Evaluation of Single-Family Monthly Bills
Water - residential 1-inch meter, 16 hcf per month / Sewer - residential / Garbage - residential curbside 1 black + 1 green Established in Resolution 20-55
Prior Implemented Adopted
Monthly Bill FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25
Water $47.70 $48.62 $49.54 $50.56 $51.58 $52.60
Sewer $21.50 $22.40 $23.30 $24.20 $25.20 $26.20
Garbage $35.50 $37.20 $39.00 $41.00 $42.60 $44.30
Total $104.70 $108.22 $111.84 $115.76 $119.38 $123.10
Monthly $ ∆ FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25
Water $0.80 $0.92 $0.92 $1.02 $1.02 $1.02
Sewer $0.40 $0.90 $0.90 $0.90 $1.00 $1.00
Garbage $1.70 $1.70 $1.80 $2.00 $1.60 $1.70
Total $2.90 $3.52 $3.62 $3.92 $3.62 $3.72
Monthly % ∆ FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25
Water 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Sewer 2% 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
Garbage 5% 5% 5% 5% 4% 4%
Total 2.8% 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% 3.0% 3.0%
$48 $49 $50 $51 $52 $53
$22 $22 $23 $24 $25 $26
$36 $37 $39 $41 $43 $44
$105 $108 $112 $116 $119 $123
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$180
FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25
Garbage
Sewer
Water Based on Adopted Rates
The average monthly bill projected for a single-family customer will increase from $108.22 to $111.84, a total of $3.62 a month.
Attachments:
1. TM_prelim_d1-0_2022-final