The City anticipates that the combined costs of proposed water, wastewater and stormwater systems’ capital improvements, anticipated increases in operation and maintenance expenses, and other financial obligations over the next four years will exceed the utilities’ current financial capabilities under existing rates. To provide an ongoing plan to meet the anticipated financial obligations of the utilities on a sound and equitable customer basis, the City authorized a comprehensive study of revenue requirements, costs of service, and rates for each of the three utilities in 2019.
Staff continues to maintain the rate models resulting from the 2019 study. Inputs are updated annually and reviewed for accuracy and impact. Water and stormwater rates requested in 2019 were reduced by 1.5% each before their passage for three (3) years, instead of the requested five (5), with the intent to review and assess the continued necessity. Subsequent review of the wastewater model revealed significant miscalculations proving the approved rates to be woefully inadequate to maintain system requirements. Inflationary pressure continues to push costs up and system capital needs have not been relieved in any substantial way.
In December 2022 and January 2023, the City of Topeka Governing Body had extensive discussion on utility rates. The City also held two public input meetings in January 2023 to discuss utility rates. In an effort to continue those discussions, a series of three public meetings have been scheduled on March 1, March 8 and March 15, 2023, along with continued discussion by the Governing Body over the next several weeks.
The three public input meetings will be streamed live on Channel 4, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cityoftopeka/ and the city's online livestream at https://www.topeka.org/communications/live-stream/. Send questions in advance of the meeting or during the "live" meeting to citymanager@topeka.org. Written public comment may submitted at the meeting or personally to the City Clerk's Office located at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166, Topeka, Kansas, 66603 or via email to citymanager@topeka.org.
After careful consideration of concerns presented through public comment and input from the Governing Body, Staff will present a modified rate proposal for consideration by the Governing Body.
On March 7, 2023, Governing Body members requested Staff provide more detail on the 2023 City of Topeka Franchise Fee Credit Program administered by the Community Resources Council (CRC) providing eligible households a standardized credit for utility services, which can be applied for once a year. On this same date, Governing Body members also requested additional information on the City of Topeka Water Share Program, a donation based program that allows customers paying their City utility bill to add an automatic amount of their choosing to go to charity, to assist in the payment of City utility bills of those less fortunate. This program is also administered by CRC and given as a credit on the bill of the individual in need. The fund balance is approximately $15,000 annually.