Public meeting set for wastewater fee increase

Public meeting set for water fee increase

Zach White

A public meeting to discuss a proposed change for the city's water rates is now scheduled for April 4, at 6:30 p. m., just before the Havre City Council meeting that night.

The change to be discussed is intended to cover a $54,000 shortage in what the city collected last year.

As a part of the bond the city took to improve the water system, it is required to take in 125 percent of what it pays, which last year should have been $315,000.

Instead they collected about $260,000.

The city is looking at increasing its water charges by 4.7 percent.

Now that a date is set, a notice of the meeting will be mailed out with the next round of water bills.

The meeting, other than being required by state statute, will be more informative than an actual debate.

Council member Andrew Brekke said that the city has little choice in this matter.

"If we had 150 people show up and say they didn't want this increase, we would sympathize with them, but our hands are tied, " Brekke said. "Either we adjust our bonding or pay back the whole amount. I doubt they would support an increase on their bills to pay the full principal. "

Brekke said that this sort of increase is routine and happens almost annually.

"We're only raising it to the calculated amount to meet the bond, " Brekke said. "We're not doing this for profit. "

A public meeting to discuss a proposed change for the city's wastewater rates is now scheduled for April 4, at 6:30 p. m., just before the Havre City Council meeting that night.

The change to be discussed is intended to cover a $54,000 shortage in what the city collected last year.

As a part of the bond the city took to improve the water system, it is required to take in 125 percent of what it pays, which last year should have been $315,000.

Instead they collected about $260,000.

The city is looking at increasing its wastewater charges by 4.7 percent.

Now that a date is set, a notice of the meeting will be mailed out with the next round of water bills.

The meeting, other than being required by state statute, will be more informative than an actual debate.

Council member Andrew Brekke said that the city has little choice in this matter.

"If we had 150 people show up and say they didn't want this increase, we would sympathize with them, but our hands are tied," Brekke said. "Either we adjust our bonding or pay back the whole amount. I doubt they would support an increase on their bills to pay the full principal."

Brekke said that this sort of increase is routine and happens almost annually.

"We're only raising it to the calculated amount to meet the bond, " Brekke said. "We're not doing this for profit. "