Cortez residents are invited to share their thoughts on a proposed 3.5 percent refuse collection rate increase and a 5 percent water rate increase at a public hearing scheduled for Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Public Works Director Phil Johnson said the city takes the approach of annual, incremental rate increases instead of shocking ratepayers with a large increase all at once. In the past four years, he said refuse rates have increased by $2.75 per month.
Upon City Council approval, the new rates would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019. A residence or small business currently pays $21 per month for weekly garbage pickup. That is set to increase to $21.75, a 75 cent increase. Rates for dumpster pickups will increase proportionately depending on the dumpster size and frequency of pickup.
Although Montezuma County increased landfill tipping fees by 29 percent this year, Johnson said Cortez will not pass those increases onto residents. He said the city will absorb the increased cost.
“Because we’re making these incrementally small increases and we have a healthy fund balance, we’re not having to pass on big increases to our users as a result,” Johnson said.
The water rate for a single-family home is $21.80 and is set to increase to $22.90, a $1.10 increase per month. Multifamily units will pay $21.65 per month under the new rate structure. Usage over 1,000 gallons will bring a fee of $3.07 per 1,000 gallons.
Commercial rates will increase proportionately based on meter size. Service line and development charges are also proposed to increase. A new home or business that connects to a 3/4 inch tap will pay $5,566, an increase of $265 compared with the current rate.
The proposed water rate increases come weeks after the City Council adopted a water conservation plan, on Nov. 13, that aims to reduce per capita water use.
“We’re going to try to teach people to be more efficient and more effective with their water so they’re not using that much to over-irrigate,” Johnson said.
sdolan@the-journal.com