Notice of Public Hearing
Purpose: The City of St. George, Utah will hold public hearings to review and take public comment regarding non-reciprocal transfers for unbilled utility services from the Electric, Water, and Sewer Funds to other City Funds.
Public Hearing: Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 5:00 pm. St. George City Hall, 175 E 200 N, St. George, UT 84770
Background: The City of St. George has funds that operate as business-type funds, providing water, energy, and sewer collection and treatment services to customers and charging fees based upon consumption (usage) at rates established by the St. George City Council. Most city-owned facilities are charged for these services, but some services are provided at no cost to the City. For example, the Water Fund provides water and irrigation water to some city parks, landscaping, city facilities, golf courses, and right-of-ways. Similarly, the Electric Fund provides power to city wells and pump stations used by the Water Fund to distribute water to customers. For the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the total amount of unbilled services is $855,561 for water and irrigation, $44,357 for sewer collection and treatment, and $983,817 for electricity.
The costs indicated in this notice are already included in the rates utility customers are currently paying, and we estimate that each customer is billed an average of $1.80 per month for these costs. This notice is for informational purposes only and this practice of unbilled utility services does not result in a proposed increase in the water, electric, or sewer rates. However, the 2020-2021 budget does include proposed rate increases due to increased costs from suppliers and other infrastructure needs. The proposed water increase incorporates a passthrough of a $0.10 per 1,000 gallons increase in wholesale rates from the Washington County Water Conservancy District; the proposed electric increase is $1.00 per month to the base rate for our residential customers; and the proposed sewer increase is $3.50 per month per equivalent residential unit.
For the current fiscal year 2019-2020, the amount of unbilled utility services is as follows:
Fund Receiving Service Unbilled
Electricity Unbilled
Water & Irrigation Unbilled
Sewer
General Fund $ 35,618 $ 789,087 $ 38,744
Water Fund $ 902,887 $ 29,536 $ 1,577
Energy Fund $ 45,312 $ 1,872 $ 3,448
Regional Wastewater Treatment $ 0 $ 34,893 $ 0
Public Transit Fund $ 0 $ 173 $ 588
Total Unbilled Amount $ 983,817 $ 855,561 $ 44,357
For next fiscal year 2020-2021, the amount of unbilled utility services are budgeted as follows:
Fund Receiving Service Unbilled Electricity Unbilled
Water & Irrigation Unbilled Sewer
General Fund $ 37,000 $ 1,020,000 $ 41,000
Water Fund $ 930,000 $ 31,000 $ 2,500
Energy Fund $ 47,000 $ 2,000 $ 4,000
Regional Wastewater Treatment $ 0 $ 37,000 $ 0
Public Transit Fund $ 0 $ 500 $ 500
Total Unbilled Amount $ 1,014,000 $ 1,090,500 $ 48,000
For questions or comments regarding this public notice, please contact the following individuals at 435-627-4000.
Trevor A. Coombs, Administrative Services Director
Tiffany M LaJoice, Finance Manager
Deanna Brklacich, Budget & Financial Planning Manager
Laurie Mangum, Energy Services Director
Scott Taylor, Water Services Director