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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 43-25BARRETT BROTHERS - DAYTON, OHIO. RECORD OF ORDINANCES Form 6220S Ordinance No. i Passed. - AMENDING CHAPTER 51 AND 52 ESTABLISHING USER FEES AND CAPACITY CHARGES FOR THE SANITARY SEWER AND WATER SYSTEMS WHEREAS, a financial analysis of the City’s Water and Sewer Funds is conducted annually as part of the Capital Improvements Program update; and WHEREAS, the financial analysis is completed to evaluate the water and sewer system rate structure and projected fund balance in the Water and Sewer Funds; and WHEREAS, the City’s goal is to maintain water and sewer rate structures which are adequate to insure the Water and Sewer Funds (Enterprise Funds) are self-supporting, including the costs of operations, maintenance of the systems, debt service obligations and necessary capital replacements; and WHEREAS, based on the current revenues and future expenditures of the water and sewer funds, it is necessary to amend the fees for the water systems and sanitary sewer user fees and capacity charges. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Dublin, State of Ohio, members of the elected officials concurring: Section 1. Section 51.64 of the Codified Ordinances to be amended to read as follows: (A) _ The following rate is the charge for sewer service and use and is based on metered consumption of water for the area of the City served by the City of Columbus: Rate Per 1,000 Cubic Feet Effective Date January 1, 2026 $16.88 (B) The rate above is in addition to the sewer rates charged by the City of Columbus. (C) _ The following rate is the charge for sewer service and use for the area of the City serviced by Delaware County: Flat Rate Per Month Effective Date January 1, 2026 $18.60 (D) The rate above is in addition to the sewer rates charged by the Delaware County. (E) Fees received from use of the sewer system shall be deposited in the Sewer Fund and used for the operation and maintenance of the system, including capital improvements and any related debt service. Section 2. Section 52.06(A) of the Codified Ordinances to be amended to read as follows: (A) The following rate is the charge for water service and use and is based on metered consumption of water: Rate Per 1,000 Cubic Feet Effective Date January 1, 2026 $3.34 RECORD OF ORDINANCES BARRETT BROTHERS - DAYTON, OHIO Form 6220S 43-25 Page 2 Ordinance No, ——_— Passed. Section 3.__EFFECTIVE DATE This ordinance adopting the schedule of fees and service charges shall take effect on January 1, 2026. ai Passed this day of Novencber , 2025 ia Mayor - Presiding Officer Clef of ope U To: Members of Dublin City Council From: Megan O’Callaghan, City Manager Date: October 14, 2025 Initiated By: Matt Rubino, CFO/Director of Finance Meghan Murray, Budget Manager Doug Urbancsik, Financial Analyst Re: Ordinance 43-25 Amending Chapters 51 and 52 Establishing User Fees and Capacity Charges for the Sanitary Sewer and Water Systems Summary A financial review of the City's Water and Sewer Funds was completed as part of the annual update of the City's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The review included financial projections through 2030 for revenues and costs, capital improvement projects and existing and projected debt service obligations. The fee recommendations necessary to support the proposed water and sanitary sewer capital projects programmed in the 2026-2030 CIP resulted in fees that will need to be adjusted from the current rate levels. These projects include the following construction and improvements of three relief sewers and two additional projects planned in the next five-year period: • Deer Run Sanitary Sewer System Improvements – o Avery Road Relief Sewer o Glick Road Relief Sewer o Muirfield Village Golf Club Relief Sewer o South Riverview Street Relief Sewer • North Fork Indian Run Sanitary Sewer System Improvements - Brand Road Relief Sewer • South Fork Indian Run Sanitary Sewer System Improvements - Post Road Relief Sewer • Deer Run Sanitary Sewershed Infiltration/Inflow Mitigation Pilot Project • Metro Center Revitalization, Catalytic Sites - Sanitary Sewer Improvements The combined total of those projects (programmed over the next five-year CIP period) is $22.3 million. To proceed with the 2026-2030 CIP, a final determination on the resolution of funding for these water and sewer projects will occur in 2026 and be included in the 2027-2031 CIP. Consistent with those discussions during the CIP, a 1% increase in water user fees and a 5% increase in sewer user fees would be recommended to support each fund's obligations in future years, which is consistent with the fees adopted as part of the 2025-2029 CIP. Office of the City Manager 5555 Perimeter Center • Dublin, OH 43017-1090 Phone: 614-410-4400 • Fax: 614-410-4490 Memo Memo re. Ordinance No. 43-25 Amending Chapter 51 and 52 User Fees and Capacity Charges for the Sanitary Sewer and Water Systems October 14, 2025 Page 2 of 3 The following table displays water and sewer rates since 2014. Implementation of the recommended user fees for the Columbus Service Area will result in the following rates per 1,000 cubic feet: Water * Sewer * Total Current rate – 2025 $3.31 $16.08 $19.39 2026 change $0.03 (1%) $0.80 (5%) $0.83 New rate – 2026 $3.34 $16.88 $20.22 *These rates are in addition to rates charged by the City of Columbus. Based on the average Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) of 1,100 cubic feet of water usage per month, the average quarterly Dublin surcharge costs are estimated as follows: Water Sewer Total Current rate – 2025 $10.88 $53.06 $63.94 2026 change $0.11 (1%) $2.65 (5%) $2.76 New rate – 2026 $10.99 $55.71 $66.70 The recommended water and sanitary sewer system user fee adjustments also apply to Delaware County's service area (Wedgewood Hills, Campden Lakes, and Wedgewood Glen). Delaware County charges a flat user fee, and the monthly Dublin user charge reflected in the ordinance is based on an ERU of 1,100 cubic feet of water usage per month and the user fee rates per MCF. Sewer – Monthly * Sewer – Quarterly * Current rate – 2025 $17.72 $53.15 2026 change $0.88 (5%) $2.66 (5%) New rate – 2026 $18.60 $55.81 *These rates are in addition to rates charged by Delaware County. Memo re. Ordinance No. 43-25 Amending Chapter 51 and 52 User Fees and Capacity Charges for the Sanitary Sewer and Water Systems October 14, 2025 Page 3 of 3 The rate structures for the water and sanitary sewer systems will continue to be reviewed as part of the annual CIP process. Based on the need to continually maintain the sanitary sewer lines and potential service expansions, future user fees and capacity charges will continue to be evaluated to determine whether rates should be adjusted. A utility rate study is planned for 2026 to conduct a detailed analysis of operating and capital needs and fund adequacy to support operation and expansion of the system. The last rate study was conducted in 2020. Sewer Fund The Sewer Fund currently has debt outstanding for multiple projects in the total principal amount of $18.7 million. Long-term bonds are currently planned for issuance in the total amount of approximately $3.1 million (and $10.2 million currently unfunded) over the next five-year period in conjunction with the anticipated 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program. The proposed debt service for capital projects associated with the sanitary sewer system is higher than water system debt service over the next five years. It is currently anticipated that $1.1 million in the annual sanitary sewer maintenance program will be expended over the next five-year period, with sanitary sewer lining and repair costing approximately $3.0 million in that same period. Additionally, improvements such as those necessary for the four Deer Run Relief Sewers will incur costs of more than $13.6 million, as well as $2.3 million currently unfunded for the North Fork and South Fork Indian Run sanitary sewer system improvements. The recommended 5% sewer fee increase stems from the approved 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program. Enterprise funds are required to be fiscally self-supporting and further policy discussions will be scheduled in 2026 to discuss additional potential funding sources. Water Fund The Water Fund currently has debt outstanding for multiple projects in the total principal amount of $5.3 million. Long-term bonds are currently planned for issuance in the total amount of approximately $4.2 million over the next five-year period in conjunction with the anticipated 2026- 2030 Capital Improvements Program. It is currently anticipated that $4.2 million in water line replacement will be expended over the next five-year period, with water tank improvements costing approximately $110,000 and water booster station improvements approximately $250,000 in that same period. Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Programs The City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities offers a 20% discount on water and sewer consumption charges for qualifying low-income customers. Income requirements are based on federal poverty standards. The attached documents provide program details and the application for the low-income program that must be completed by a customer seeking assistance. Additional information regarding this program can be found at the following link: https://www.columbus.gov/utilities/customers/Utility-Discount-Programs/ Recommendation Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance at the second reading/public hearing on November 3, 2025. A 25% discount is available on water and sewer consump-tion charges for qualifying low-income customers. Approved customers will also receive a one-time $65 credit on their bill and qualiﬁ ng seniors 60 and old-er will have their service charges waived. Requirements to qualify for the program are inside. To apply, please complete and return the enclosed application with the documentation, or apply online: columbus.gov/payassist.To be eligible for the discount, applicants must have an active City of Columbus water or sewer account for their residence in their name (or spouse's name) and meet at least one of the following requirements:1)Applicant must be currently enrolled ina qualiﬁ ng low income program. A currentletter of participation from one of the followingprograms (more on back) is required:• SNAP• Ohio Medicaid• Ohio Works First• Low Income Energy Assistance• Home Energy Assistance Program-OR-2)Household income must be less than200% of the current U.S. Census Bureaufederal poverty level (chart below). Youmust provide proof of current householdincome with the following for all householdmembers over age 18:• Income tax return• W-2 forms• Beneﬁ t letter from Social Security• Pension award statement1) Customers approved for the programwill receive a 25% discount on future waterand sewer usage charges and a one-time$65 credit on their bill. Seniors 60 and old-er who qualify will also have the monthlyservice charges waived.2)Discount will not include: meter read-ing, late charges, interest or other asso-ciated fees.3)Eligibility must be established annual-ly. To maintain eligibility, customer mustsign a new application on or before thedate of the previous year’s application.4)If customer becomes ineligible forthe discount, Customer Service must benotiﬁ ed as soon as possible, but no laterthan 30 days after the ineligibility.5)Falsifying information or failing tonotify a change in eligibility status maylead to:• Termination of water service• Recovery of past discounts• Civil and/or criminal sanctions6) For questions, please contact us at614-645-8276 weekdays 7AM - 6PM,email UtilityLeadRep@columbus.gov orvisit columbus.gov/utilities.Eligibility RequirementsGeneral InformationThe federal poverty level may be adjusted annually. Call or check our web site for current requirements. 1 $32,640 2 $43,242 3 $50,546 4 $63,844 5 $73,726 6 $82,262 7 $90,200 8 $102,354 9 or more $121,290 Household Size2025 Maximum IncomeWater and Sewer Discount Programs 20252025 Water Discounts