Water Bills Higher Despite Conservation

The City of San Angelo held a water rate forum Tuesday evening.  One slide showed the city's average water bill.

I wondered how the current average bill compared to the last time the City raised water rates in 2011.

Stormwater and Pumping fees were added since 2011.  It's been eighteen months since the city employed pumps at Twin Buttes to move water. The city has numerous buckets through which it moves water monies.

There are discrepancies between more than the last water rate increase and the current average water bill.  The City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the last three years shows more water revenues and less water expenses than the consultant's figures.  These differences should be explained to the interested public.

I found it interesting that citizens cut their water use by 50% since 2011.  What assumptions does this study have for people responding to the conservation incentives highlighted in the session's question and answer period?  If citizens cut water use the last time fees rose dramatically might they do so again?