The water rate hike was approved by Devine council to qualify for state funding.
By a 4-1 vote, the Devine City Council approved a water rate increase ranging from 21.5 percent for low-end residential customers to 38.8 percent for high-end commercial users, effective January 1 as a first move in putting the utility back on a paying basis.
Mayor Butch Cook said that in his 18 months in office he has heard more complaints about the proposed rate increase than any other action by the city council during that period.
“It’s a balancing act from hell,” he said.
District 4 Council Member Josh Ritchey was alone in opposing the motion of the water rate proposed, he approved of the sewer rate. Throughout the meeting, Richey expressed his concerns that the rates should be even more than the current motions to fulfill the financial obligations.
The motions were taken during a special session held Nov. 7.
Council approved a 37.1 percent increase in the city sewer rate.
Council approved a 21.5 residential to 38.8 percent increase for high-end commercial users in the water rates.
The water rate increase is part one of a two-step plan that would see the lowest level water rate increase 38.14 percent by October 2025 to move forward with obtaining $11.5 million in financing from the state to cover the mandated replacement of lead water lines serving Devine homes.
“If the city does not put the water utility back on a financially solvent basis it will not qualify for that financing,” Cook said.
“The state is offering a pool of money,” he said. “If we don’t qualify, we’re not going to get it. We’ll be on our own facing the same mandate that everyone else is facing, which is substantial.”
For low-end residential customers equipped with three-quarter inch water meters, the monthly water bill will jump from the current $38.14 to $47.33 in January. If the council proceeds with the second step in the rate increase, that monthly bill will jump to $56.52 next October.
At least 827 customers out of the 1,700 accounts served by the water utility receive the lowest rate of service.
The rate varies based on the size of the meter and the tier of service the customer receives. The lowest tier, ranging from 1,000 gallons to 5,000 gallons monthly, pays an additional fee of $5.50/per thousand gallons.
Commercial customers ( currently there is only one- Walmart) served by 8-inch meters will see a rate increase in January from $911.64 a month to $1,351.05 a month.
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Story by Anton Riecher