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Show City Proposes r Water Kate Hike A proposed water rate increase was presented by the Pleasant Grove City Council in a public hearing last week at which no citizens attended. Facing a deficit from the past fiscal year in the water department, the city council has proposed an increase to $5.50 per month for the base rate which allows 10,000 gallons of water plus 55 cents for each additional thousand gallons. The current rate is $4 base plus 40 cents per thousand gallons. The average citizen in Pleasant Grove uses between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons per month. During the summer when lawns must be watered, more is used than in the winter. Some members of the city council felt the increase should not go into effect until after the sprinkling season is over so it would be less a hardship on residents. However, the City Engineer, Lee Wimmer, said it should be implemented as soon as possible as the city needs money to purchase property near the Monson Well on which to construct a larger water tank to meet the needs of the community. He noted that there are very few hookup fees being received because home construction in the city has dropped to almost zero. He added that some cities can subsidize water and sewer funds through a large amount of revenues received from sales taxes. He pointed out that Pleasant Grove does not have this luxury because sales tax revenues are quite low here. The lose for the just-completed year would be $42,631 with the projected loss for the coming fiscal year being $55,478 if the increase is not made, according to city recorder, Mark Johnson. The council did not take a vote on the increase but is expected to at the city council meeting July 20. |