City approves fee schedule, proposed tax rate

Citizens of Breckenridge will soon see an increase in their water and sewage bill, due to the approval of a new fee schedule. During a regular meeting of city commissioners last Tuesday, the new rates were adopted and will go into effect Oct. 1. Commissioners also approved the proposed budget and tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, with a public hearing set for Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Water Rates

According to Heather Roberston-Caraway, interim city manager, the current rates for water and sewer taps did not include the extra cost for excavating rocks during installation. A “rock clause” was added to the fee schedule to cover the expense.

“We’ve discovered we’re not even beginning to charge enough,” Robertson-Caraway said. “... cause if we hit rock, we’re thousands (of dollars) in.”

Residential properties, inside the city limits, will see an increase of $15 monthly on their water bill, from $25 to $40, on the first 2,000-gallon minimum, with residential properties outside the city limits increasing $10 monthly, from $50 to $60.

Commercial properties and apartment complexes, inside the city limits, will see an increase of $16.50 monthly on their water bill, from $33 to $49.50, on the first 2,000-gallon minimum, with properties outside the city limits increasing $8.25 monthly, from $66 to $74.25.

For residential and commercial properties, inside the city limits, the new rates for gallons used over the minimum, per thousand gallons, will increase, as follows: next 3,000 gallons, increase from $5.50 per thousand gallons to $6.60 per thousand gallons; next 5,000 gallons, increase from $5.85 per thousand gallons to $7 per thousand gallons; next 10,000 gallons, increase from $6.80 per thousand gallons to $8.15 per thousand gallons; and over 20,000 gallons, increase from $7.80 per thousand gallons to $9.30 per thousand gallons.

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