newly adopted rates town hall meeting january 25, 2010
TRANSCRIPT
Newly Adopted Rates
Town Hall MeetingJanuary 25, 2010
Rates Being Adjusted
Water and Sewer rates Solid waste/Sanitation rates Ambulance fees Hazardous waste clean up fees Fire permit fees
Water and Sewer FundCurrent Status
The Water and Sewer Fund has had a net loss for the third consecutive year.
The preliminary ending working capital reserve is $7.1 million or 16% of operating expenditures.
We need to rebuild the working capital reserve levels to at least 25% of operating expenditures.
Continued Reserves at this level or the possibility of drawing it down further is not fiscally responsible.
Current Status
The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) increased their cost per thousand gallons of water from $1.18/1,000 gallons to $1.25/1,000 gallons. Our net cost for gallons used last year was $1.257/1,000 gallons.
The cost for Sanitary Sewer Service from the NTMWD increased by 11% for FY 2010.
The construction permit revenue continues to be down from prior years.
Current Status
Debt Service payments amount to 26% of the total expenditures - $11.6 million
The total paid to the NTMWD is 45% of the total expenditures - $20.3 million
Operations amount to 29% of the total expenditures - $8.3 million in salaries and benefits and $4.5 million in operations.
Utility Fund Expenditure Breakdown
18.5%
10.4%
45.1%
25.9%
0.1%Utility Fund Expenses FY 2010
Salary & Benefits
Operations
NTMWD
Debt
Capital
Cost Saving Measures
We are still holding 13 frozen positions in the Utility Fund
We minimized any increases in operational line items.
We continue to look at all potential cost saving measures.
Environmental Services Fund Current Status
The Environmental Services Fund has a preliminary ending working capital reserve of $2.1 million or 24% of operational expenditures.
The recommended rate adjustments keep a balanced budget for FY 2010.
The NTMWD passed along increases in the landfill costs.
The contractors were awarded increases in August 2009 that we have been absorbing.
New Residential Utility Rates
Gallons Current Rates
New Adopted Rates
Water Minimum Includes 2,000 $11.00 $14.00
2,001 – 15,000 $2.69 $2.76
15,001 – 25,000 $3.15 $3.22
Over 25,001 $3.39 $3.46
Sewer Minimum Includes 2,000 $11.00 $14.00
Over 2,001 $2.50 $2.55
Sanitation $10.00 $11.00
Average Monthly Bill Based on 13,000 gallons water and 8,000 gallons sewer
Current Bill Projected Bill
Water Minimum Bill $11.00 $14.00
Volume Charge $29.59 $30.36
Sewer Minimum Bill $11.00 $14.00
Volume Charge $15.00 $15.30
Sanitation $10.00 $11.00
Stormwater $2.00 $2.00
Total Bill $78.59 $86.66
General Fund Recommendations
The increases in ambulance fees is to keep our charges somewhat in line with what the service is costing.
We process bills electronically now and have the ability to bill for more services. These are costs that Medicaid will pay, thereby increasing the amount of revenue that we can recoup.
Emergency Medical Services
Current Rate New Rates
Treatment/Transport, Resident $550.00 No Change
Treatment/Transport, Visitor $635.00 $700.00
Cost per mile $7.00 $10.00
EKG monitoring $50.00 $50.00
Oxygen therapy $50.00 $50.00
Intravenous Access/Therapy $50.00 $50.00
Intubation/ALS airway mgmt $50.00 $75.00
Itemized billing categories 12 new categories added
General Fund Recommendations
The increases in the cost for clean up of a HAZMAT incident is to offset the cost for our specialized team. We are one of the few departments with specialized training and equipment to handle these calls.
The increases from the Fire Marshal’s office for the permitting is to recognize our increased cost of services.
Questions?