To keep up with the cost of inflation, to prevent further erosion of reserve funds, as well as adequately prepare for future projects, irrigation rates must periodically be adjusted to cover the cost of service.
The City conducted a rate study of the Irrigation Division and recommends the following rate adjustments:
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Operation & Maintenance: Recommend an Operation & Maintenance rate increase of 3% per year for four years (2019-2022). The last rate adjustment for Operation and Maintenance was conducted in 2014.
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Capital: Recommend a Capital rate increase of 5.5% per year for four years (2019-2022). The last rate adjustment for Capital was conducted in 1998.
Irrigation charges assessed to the properties are determined based on lot size; total square footage of the lot multiplied by the current rate.
Attached for review is the revised Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 7.24 based on the City staff’s recommendations and as directed by the City Council at the October 18, 2018 Budget Session. This rate increase provides the Irrigation Division with proper funding levels for the next four years.
Future fee increases will be presented to Council through an annual fee schedule rather than individually throughout the year on a case-by-case basis. |