City water and garbage rates going up

Whitefish’s water, sewer and garbage rates will likely be increasing this fall, but not as much as in past years.

City Council Sept. 21 OK’d a 1.3 percent increase for water, 2.3 percent increase for wastewater and 3 percent increase for garbage.

Although the city typically bases its annual rate increase on the Consumer Price Index, which is 4.6 percent, Public Works Director Craig Workman recommended a lower percentage increase of 2.3 percent for both water and sewer rates.

“I think 4.6 percent may be high for the city,” Workman said. “We’re sitting in a fairly comfortable position, but I do think it would make sense to move forward with an annual increase.”

Workman said periodic increases are necessary to mitigate the impact of abrupt rate hikes that might be necessary to catch up with inflation or finance major capital improvement projects. The garbage service rate increase is based upon the city’s service contract with North Valley Refuse.

Council is set to vote Oct. 5 on resolution that would set the new rates.

The 1.3 percent increase for water equals out to about 59 cents per month on the average water bill. The 2.3 percent increase for wastewater means an increase of about 95 cents on the average bill. The 3 percent increase for garbage amounts to 27 cents per month for the typical residential customer.

Councilor Sarah Fitzgerald said she worries about the impact a higher increase than 1.3 percent could have on water users.

“I’ve always known our water rates are high,” she said. “The increase would exceed the cost of living adjustments for our seniors — for a lot of them their water bill is there highest bill. I’d like to see a more moderate 1.3 percent increase.”

Councilor Richard Hildner said the increase for wastewater rates should be higher than the water rate increase.

“We face a $10 million to $20 million cost for major improvements to our treatment plant,” he said. “We have to plan so that increase doesn’t happen all at once.”

Last year the city increased both sewer and water rates by 3.6 percent.

A rate study including 14 Montana cities, shows Whitefish’s typical water and waste water utility bills as one of the higher in the state.

A typical Whitefish residential water utility bill is just under $50, while Kalispell’s is about $22. However, Whitefish uses surface water while Kalispell’s system is fed by ground water, which is less expensive to treat.

The typical residential wastewater utility bill for Whitefish is $39, which is just slightly higher than Kalispell at $37.

“Whitefish is not an easy place to distribute water or collect wastewater,” Workman said. “The topography makes it difficult and requires a lot of collection zones. We are relatively high on the list, but there are reasons for that.”