Following public hearings on the budget and the proposed ad valorem tax rate of $1.0132 per $100 valuation that drew little or no relevant comments from the audience, the council voted unanimously in favor of the budget with a slight change to the way water rate increases would be passed on to local customers.

Councilwoman Stephanie Horton expressed her displeasure with the water rate increase — which originally called for a $2.50 hike in customer's base rate for sanitation and a 15.5-cent increase per 1,000 gallons of water used — asking the council to consider a different ratio of $2 for the base rate and an 18.5-cent increase per 1,000 gallons used.

Horton said the rate she proposed would help protect elderly customers who can't afford to water their lawns, a measure Mayor Russ McEwen agreed with.

“It benefits the people who are least able to afford water,” said McEwen, asking whoever made the motion to approve the budget do so with the amended water rates.

The motion was made by Horton with a second from Councilman Manuel Ramirez Jr.

According to city officials, the rate increase is necessary to balance out a $500,000 increase caused by the $215,000 rate hike being passed along by the Colorado River Municipal Water District and the $252,800 jump in the cost of chemicals.

The council also held a public hearing on its proposed tax rate of $1.0132 per $100 valuation during the meeting, drawing no relevant questions or comments from the audience.

According to Peggy Walker, finance director for the city, the combination of the proposed tax rate and the budget will yield a balanced budget, slightly tipping the fiscal scales with approximately $901 more than the financial plan calls for.

The council is expected to entertain final approval of the budget in September.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it