Water and sewer rate to see increase in 2018
BRANSON MO NEWS: B
ranson residents will be seeing increases to their water and sewer rates in 2018.
The Branson Board of Aldermen approved the proposed 2018 rates on a first reading during a regular meeting Tuesday night. The proposed 2018 rate changes a 2 percent adjustment to the water rate and a 7 percent adjustment to the sewer rate.
According to Mike Ray, director of utilities for the city, the proposed rates will be enough to fund the utilities at a sustainable level while keeping costs low compared to other communities in the region.
“Branson’s water and sewer rates are still one of the lowest in Missouri,” Ray said. A chart provided to the board by the utility department showed the proposed new combined rate, a $30.35 bill at 5,000 gallon usage, is higher than only three communities, Union, Eureka and Kennett.
The current bill for the same usage is $29.15 according to the utility department.
A previous version of the 2018 proposed water rate, Ray said, included a 12 percent adjustment to the water rate. The adjustment would have accounted for water main improvements along 76 Country Boulevard, with the final proposal sitting at 2 percent and Ray recommending a different approach to funding the improvements.
“The department instead recommends funding the cost of Highway 76 water main improvements under municipal bonds,” Ray said. “By issuing bonds to fund the upgrades to the water mains along 76, rate payers can avoid substantial water-rate increases over the next four years that would be necessary to fund the project.”
Alderwoman Betsy Seay thanked Ray for the department’s work in lowering the proposed water usage rate.
“I appreciate you guys looking at that and helping you guys keep our rates down,” Seay said.
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