PLEASANT PRAIRIE APPROVES 2017 WATER AND SEWER BUDGETS WITH NO RATE INCREASE
During a November 21 meeting, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered and approved the 2017 budgets for the water and sewer utilities. The budgets, as approved, will keep water and sewer rates steady during 2017 and will not require an increase.
Pleasant Prairie's water and sewer rates are based on the size of the meter and the volume of water used. Water rates are tiered based on the number of gallons consumed; while sewer rates are calculated with a winter-based average to account for water used on lawns or in yards that will not pass through the sanitary sewer system. Pleasant Prairie posts rates (utility fees) and more detailed information here.
During 2017,the water utility will continue to perform water meter and hydrant maintenance and upgrades, and the 93rd booster reservoir will be painted. The sewer utility will continue its work to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration that leaks into the sanitary sewer system, identifying areas of need over the winter months and repairing these areas during spring, summer and fall in order to lower treatment costs. Staff will rebuild the Bentz lift station and install security fencing around lift stations.
Utility staff will continue to leverage advances in industry technology to streamline ongoing operations and improve efficiency in order to help control costs. The water utility, which made its last debt payment during 2015, remains debt free. At the end of 2017, the sewer utility is expected to have approximately $3.1 million in outstanding principal. The Village intends to continue setting aside funds annually to pay down the remaining debt by 2020 and to build reserves for future infrastructure replacement. Moving forward, the Village will work to complete improvements and capital projects without borrowing whenever practical.