So if you have noticed, the city of Copperas Cove is recommended
a 1 percent increase for water and sewer rates for the upcoming year.
Plus a 5.5 percent increase in solid waste rates for $1 per
month.
This will be discussed by the council on Tuesday evening.
We were warned, back when She-who-shall-not-be-named was
city manager, that because the council did not approve any utility rate hikes
for years, there was some catchup to be made. Water costs more. The city buys
its water, dear readers. There’s no magic well that the city draws from and
sells the water. It ain’t free. So the city turns around and sells it to us customers.
Plus, after we potty and shower, the city takes that water and treats it. It’s
got to go somewhere y’all, and not in the ground because that’s just nasty and
gross. So it costs to treat the water. That all makes sense.
But, if *I* were on city council – and I’m not – I’d
recommend NOT raising rates this coming year. Not a’tall.
Let’s talk about the fund, as taken from the actual 280-page
proposed city budget itself:
“Total expenses are estimated at $13,889,410, which is
$26,535 less than the amount projected for the fiscal year 2018-2019. The Water
& Sewer Fund realized a decrease in debt service requirements in fiscal
year 2019-2020 as anticipated by the debt service schedule, estimates a 6%
increase in the cost for water purchases, and the repair or replacement of
vital equipment in operation facilities.”
Okie dokie. They expect costs of water to go up 6%. Not
something the city can control.
Before we look at the numbers, let me ask you this: How many
of us have 90 days of household expenses saved up in case of disaster or need?
Nope, I didn’t think many of us do.
Welp, those city funds have “fund balances” of at least 90 days
of operating expenses. It’s a rainy day fund, or emergencies, or whatever. Back
sometime ago, the city council itself approved an “ideal fund balance policy.”
Basically, the city manager MUST or IDEALLY keep at least 90
days of expenses in that fund. If the apocalypse happens, or whatever, we will
still be able to keep operations going. Maybe not the apocalypse, but you get
the idea. You just never know. But a city manager should adhere to the policies
his bosses – the city councilmembers – have asked him to adhere to. Or, he
could be fired.
Yep.
Dear readers, let’s look at the fund balances for Water &
Sewer, and Solid Waste, as taken from the proposed budget for the next fiscal
year itself:
Okay. Look at the funds. Look at the fund balances.
Presently, the city’s Water & Sewer fund is $201,189 OVER the ideal fund
balance. Also, the Solid Wate fund is $1,604,535 OVER the ideal fund balance.
That’s OVER. In excess of.
Those funds already have $2,464,549 in Water/Sewer, and $2,678,691
in the Solid Waste fund. Waiting to be used. If needed. Like a disaster or something.
Or?
Now….getting back to my “if I were on council” statement.
Dear readers, dear council members (some of whom read and
scowl at this blog and perhaps curse me silently or not-so-silently), the
funding of FATHOM has been a general clusterf*** of three years now. We still
hear the problems popping up. Things weren’t GREAT under the old system, but at
least you knew it was local.
Anyhoo, the more PRUDENT action this year for those funds
would be to HOLD OFF ON ANY RATE INCREASES.
Think of YOUR customers, dear city council. You are
customers, too. We elected you to keep OUR interests in mind. Now, granted,
some of our interests are nice, but aren’t things that are for the good of all.
Curmudgeon believes the council should take a step back and
instruct our city manager to use some of that fund balance INSTEAD OF raising
rates. Make it a goodwill gesture to your customers. It is sad that most people
equate ANY rate increases with feeding the coffers of FATHOM, but factoring
FATHOM into the budget as it is now, STILL leaves us with a healthy fund
balance.
Is a couple hundred grand more THIS year going to change
much?
Are you going to fire someone if the balance dips slightly
below “ideal?”
Well, since the council doesn’t follow its policies
regarding conduct anyway, as evidenced by past actions of the council without
nary anything but a “my bad” from Sorry-Charlie for violating Texas Ethics Commission
regulations.
Just sayin.
I remind my dear readers of the THREE MILLION DOLLAR LOAN the
city made FROM THE WATER AND SEWER FUND to ENDEAVOR REAL ESTATE so it could build
the section of the shopping center where we now enjoy places like McAlister’s,
etc., on down the line to Burke’s outlet.
It was perfectly legal for them to do
so, but it is interesting at how robust a fund is that seeks an increase in
funding.
Endeavor should be paying us back, I believe, on that loan.
Sooooo, tell me about that rate increase again, dear council!
Curmudgeon will be all ears about the upcoming discussion
this week.
And nothing has changed but continues to get worse...people are moving out of rentals...hurting our realtors, hurting our local economy plus homes are being abandoned, taxes lost, vacant properties. For some strange reason they all seem to believe that this is a good thing...nothing here for families to do or much else. Must go out of cove for even a decent senior center......who is actually running this clown show?????
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