Notice of Adoption of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Unbilled Utility Services
Purpose: Notification of adoption of the proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 budget and non-reciprocal transfers for unbilled utility services from the Electric, Water, and Sewer Funds to other City Funds.
Background: The City of St. George, Utah held its public hearings on June 15, 2023 to review and take public comment regarding the proposed fiscal year 2023-2024 budget and non-reciprocal transfers from unbilled utility services. On June 15, 2023 the Council approved the adoption of the unbilled utility services from the Electric, Water, and Sewer Funds to other City Funds.
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, city facilities, golf courses, and landscaped rights-of-way. Similarly, the Electric Fund provides power to city wells and pump stations used by the Water Fund to distribute water to customers.
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 $2.29 per month for these costs. This notice is for informational purposes only. The 2023-2024 budget does include approved rate increases due to increased costs from suppliers and other infrastructure needs. The approved water increase incorporates a passthrough of a $0.10 per 1,000 gallons increase in wholesale rates from the Washington County Water Conservancy District and a water base rate increase of $2.00 per month; the approved wastewater rate increased $1.50 per month; and $2.50 to the drainage fee per month. The Council approved a change to the drainage calculation changing the Equivalent Residential Units (ERU’s) from 2000 sq. ft. per ERU to 3000 sq. ft. per ERU.
For next fiscal year 2023-2024, the amount of unbilled utility services are budgeted as follows:
|
Fund Receiving Service |
Unbilled Electricity |
Unbilled Water & Irrigation |
Unbilled Sewer |
|
General Fund |
$ 33,500 |
$ 1,237,000 |
$ 54,200 |
|
Water Fund |
$1,300,000 |
$ 20,000 |
$ 2,200 |
|
Energy Fund |
$ 50,000 |
$ 7,200 |
$ 4,800 |
|
Regional Wastewater Treatment |
$ 0 |
$ 45,000 |
$ 0 |
|
Public Transit Fund |
$ 0 |
$ 1,100 |
$ 810 |
|
Total Unbilled Amount |
$ 1,383,500 |
$ 1,310,300 |
$ 62,010 |
For questions or comments regarding this public notice, please contact the following individuals at
435-627-4000 or complete the comment form online at https://www.sgcity.org/contact/
Trevor A. Coombs, Administrative Services Director, Tiffany M. LaJoice, Finance Manager,
Robert Myers, Budget & Financial Planning Manager, Laurie D. Mangum, Energy Services Director,
Scott B. Taylor, Water Services Director, and Cameron H. Cutler, Public Works Director