The Española City Council will hold a public meeting Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall to discuss proposed utility-rate increases.
Following a presentation on the increases, members of the public will be able to ask questions and give comments.
The water-rate proposal recommended by Acting City Manager Veronica Albin would enact an immediate 9 percent increase followed by an 8 percent increase in 2009, a 6 percent increase in 2010 and increases tied to inflation thereafter.
Likewise, wastewater rates would increase by 9 percent immediately, followed by 8.8 percent increases in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The new rates would apply to both residential and commercial accounts.
If the increases were adopted, a $50 bill at today’s rates would rise to $67.57 by 2012, city documents state.
Albin has said the increases are necessary to cover the growing costs of operating and maintaining the city’s water system. Annual revenues from a dedicated water and wastewater tax would be used to pay down debt and to provide seed money for capital improvements, according to Albin’s proposal.
The city has been unable to fully account for the revenue from that tax, which was enacted in 2002.
New rates would be adopted by amending a city ordinance, a process that requires an additional public meeting, Albin said.
Anyone unable to attend the meeting Jan. 22 may e-mail questions or comments about the rate increases to Albin at valbin@espanolanm.gov. Questions and comments may also be directed to Acting City Clerk Lucas Gauthier at 747-6012.