Laserfiche WebLink
Item No. 11 <br />TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council <br />Grayson Path, City Manager <br />FROM: Gene Anderson, Finance Director <br />SUBJECT: 2023 WATER & WASTEWATER COST OF SERVICE STUDY <br />DATE: June 12, 2023 <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The City of Paris currently has treated water contracts with four local industries (Campbell Soup, <br />PGEN (Paris Generation, LP), Lamar County Water Supply District, and Daisy Farms). One of <br />the requirements of these contracts is for the City to have an independent rate consultant conduct <br />a cost of service study each year. The study determines what the contract customer water rates <br />should be according to the contract terms. A by-product of the study is that water and wastewater <br />rates are also determined for all other water and wastewater customer classes (residential, <br />commercial, and industrial customers). This study is the basis for any non -contract rate changes <br />recommended to the City Council. The study is an important financial tool enabling the City to <br />maintain the financial integrity of the Water & Sewer (Wastewater) Fund. This annual rate study <br />and the City's rate maintenance policy are looked upon favorably by Moody's and other credit <br />rating agencies when the City is attempting to issue bonded indebtedness. Adjusting the rates in <br />accordance with our 2010 Policy is also critical in attempting to fulfill the basic care and <br />maintenance to our Water and Wastewater system needed for the citizens and businesses of Paris. <br />STATUS OF ISSUE: <br />The 2023 study has been completed. The contract rates determined by the study automatically <br />became effective June 1St per the contract terms — therefore no action is necessary by the City <br />Council on those four specific accounts. The current water rates for non -contract customers were <br />water rates is needed. The current multi-year wastewater rats as adopted ted b system. <br />City Council in <br />be sufficient to generate the revenue required the incre i <br />determined <br />..—p y n <br />January 2023 are sufficient to generate the revenue required to operate that portion of the system. <br />No increase in <br />the <br />to schedule is needed. The only rate adjustment needed at <br />thistime is i the area of treating excess strength sewer. The City tests sewage strength to <br />determine if a surcharge is warranted on industrial or commercial users. It has been three years <br />since these rates were increased. A representative from NewGen Strategies & Solutions, LLC has <br />a brief presentation to make and will answer any questions you may have. <br />