By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council members have agreed to lower the residential sprinkler water rate for residents with sprinklers on a separate meter.
City Finance Director Alberta S. Barrett spoke to council members during their Sept 28 meeting about the effect that lowering the rate would have on the city’s budget.
“Staff received direction to look at the possibility of lowering the residential sprinkler rate, which is currently, the per 1,000 (gallon) rate is $5.50 per 1,000-gallon consumption to what the residential water use rate, which is currently $3.29 per 1,000 gallons, so basically, on an annual basis, the cost, depending on consumption, would be probably around $200,000 to $300,000,” Barrett told the council.
“Also looked at a little further, to recoup that cost, if we were to change the residential water rate, we would need to increase it probably 6 to 7 percent, which would be about 25 cents on the per-1,000 (gallons). So instead, it would be $3.75, based on what the new rate is going to be, because it’s going to $3.49 (per 1,000 gallons), automatically, with what we’ve already approved,” she added.
Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano then opened the floor for discussion.
“It doesn’t make sense that because someone has a sprinkler, they’re going to get it from, basically, the same (water) system, but pay a ton more,” Councilman Jim DeReus commented.
Councilman Raul Ojeda said the last time council had discussed the sprinkler rate, the council had also considered a special water rate for senior citizens. He asked if that previously discussed senior rate was included in Barrett’s calculations.
“No, this is just the sprinkler, the residential sprinklers, so those citizens that have a separate sprinkler meter, they’re billed the base (rate) plus a per-1,000 gallon charge, which is higher than what the residential water per-1,000 gallon charge is,” Barrett replied.
“So we were asked to look at, if we were to make those equal, what the impact would be,” the finance director added.
No other members of the council had comments or questions, then the mayor asked if there were any motions.
“I’d like to make a motion to make the sprinkler rate the same as the residential water rate,” DeReus said.
Mayor Pro-tem Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. gave the second.
When Lozano asked council members for comment on DeReus’ motion, Councilman Raul Ojeda said, “We do live in a desert, and I know this is addressed whenever we go into a drought, but I always feel like I have to say that, living in a desert area, water’s really precious, and to make lawns green is something a little more, it’s a little more special, like buying something a little more pricey. It’s more illustrious, if you will, but it’s nice to have nice green lawns, but they come at a cost.”
The council then voted unanimously to approve DeReus’ motion.
After the vote, Barrett asked, “Can I clarify? So you want it to be the same. So you want us to recoup that cost through raising the residential per-1,000 gallon (rate) or are you wanting the difference to come from the (general fund) fund balance?”
“My motion stands alone,” DeReus said.
He added, “I think that at least for this next year, that’s a perfectly valid use of that excess fund balance that we’ve been talking about. We’ve had a lot of money above and beyond the required fund balances that have been just sitting there for years not doing anything, and it’s just like all the money from the COs (certificates of obligation) that we’ve been talking about. You either have a plan to spend it, or you do something else with it, such as pay it back. There’s no reason, based on our approximately .8 percent interest rate that we’re getting on the investments that the city has that we would not. What’s the point in keeping it when it’s almost costing us more in fees than we’re making on interest? So let’s spend it,” DeReus added.
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