From: Kate Haug
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2026 5:38 PM
To: Zulema Higgins <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment
Hi Zulema,
I hope you are well.
Here is one last public comment for Tuesday's meeting. It is titled "Stop OverCharging Ratepayers".
Thanks,
Kate
Dear Staff and Council Members,
Water and Sewer Ratepayers are still paying too much for Council, City Manager and Financial Services in the 2026/2027 adopted budget.
The total budget for City Council is $173,115. Water and Sewer Ratepayers are paying $90,613 or 52% of the Council budget. This is not justified with any documentation and not reflected in the agendas or recorded meetings.
The total budget for City Manager is $617,579. Water and Sewer Ratepayers are paying $392,282/ 63% for the City Manager. This is not justified by any documentation and not reflected in agendas or recorded meetings.
The total budget for Finance/ Admin is $1,527,544. Water and Sewer Ratepayers are paying $603,805 or 39.5% of the total budget. This is not justified by any documentation and not reflected in agendas or recorded meetings.
In addition, Water and Sewer Ratepayers are paying $168,593 for the Syserco Loan Repayment for Digital WaterMeters which have not increased efficiency and have actually increased costs.
Council needs to take action to reduce these unjustified costs to Water and Sewer Ratepayers.
Council time needs to be removed until time tracking is in place. No one could justify a 52% allocation.
City Manager Time needs to reflect a more standard percentage until time tracking can verify actual time spent on Water and Sewer. City Manager allocation should be reduced to 30% or $185,273 split between the two funds.
Finance/Admin needs to be reduced to 30% or $458,263 until time tracking is set in place or an RFP for an outside vendor can be issued.
Legal expenses should be $25,000 total split between the Water and Sewer. Historically, both funds used less than $12,500 per year.
Thank you,
Kate Haug