SAWS Board Approves 2010 Budget
(11/3/09)
San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees today approved a fiscally responsible 2010 budget that avoids increases to the water and wastewater rates for 2010.
Also approved today was a Resolution recommending the addition of a new line item on the monthly SAWS bill to cover the cost of increased fees from the state's environmental regulatory agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
"Rates for SAWS customers remain among the lowest in the state and the nation, thanks to hard work by staff and Board members as well as the support of the community," said Robert R. Puente, SAWS President/CEO. "However, we feel the new line item reflecting fees imposed by TCEQ is appropriate. Our customers deserve to know where their money is going."
TCEQ received less money in appropriations from the state legislature last session, prompting the agency to increase its fees imposed on water and wastewater utilities across the state. SAWS projects TCEQ fees to increase by 355 percent next year, or $1.2 million.
With approval from the SAWS Board of Trustees, the TCEQ line item proposal goes to the San Antonio City Council for consideration. If approved by Council, the new fee would show up on monthly SAWS bills beginning as early as January 2010.
The new line item would amount to approximately 27 cents per SAWS water connection and 8 cents per SAWS sewer connection, for a total of 35 cents for customers.
"We will continue to take every opportunity to provide full details on the fee with City Council and the public," added Puente.
The TCEQ fees would be itemized on customer bills, similar to the storm water fee imposed by the City of San Antonio, and the permit fee imposed by the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA). Neither is controlled by SAWS, but appear as line items on the SAWS bill. The EAA fee could also increase in 2010 as a result of that agency's budget, amounting to an additional 54 cents on the monthly bill.
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