The Roseville City Council recently received an
extensive analysis (PDF) of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure replacement needs. This analysis confirmed earlier studies showing that the city was not setting aside enough to pay for long-term capital needs.
On December 12, 2011 the Roseville City Council adopted the 2012 Water and Sewer Rates. The 2012 Rates will include a 30% increase in the water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer base rates. The base rates provide funding for infrastructure replacement and other fixed costs related to the city’s water and sewer systems.
The council is expected to adopt another 30% increase in these same base rates in 2013. By 2013, the base rates should be sufficient to provide an additional $2.2 million annually for a 30-year plan to replace the city’s aging utility infrastructure. Smaller inflationary-type rate increases will be needed in future years to offset higher infrastructure costs.
The city council also adopted increases in the water and sewer usage rates which are tied to the purchase of water from the City of St. Paul, and wastewater treatment paid to the Metropolitan Council. Overall, a typical household’s utility bill will be $145 per quarter in 2012. An increase of $21 or 17%.
Even with the rate increase, Roseville’s current utility rates will be comparable to the average rate for other metro area peer communities.