Broken Arrow City Council Considers New Utility Rates

The Broken Arrow City Council will discuss new utility rates for water, sewer and stormwater services in the city at its November 7 meeting. 

Earlier this year, the City of Broken Arrow Administration completed the process of updating its operations and five-year Capital Improvement Plan for the Utilities Department.  

With regard to infrastructure reinvestment, the Administration identified a need for a total of $140 million worth of improvements to include: $26 million to improve the city's water system, $102 million to improve wastewater (sanitary sewer) system, and $12 million to improve stormwater systems.

“Major capital investments are needed to make our utility systems reliable, efficient and ensure we have the capacity to accommodate future growth anticipated in the next 10 years,” said City Manager Michael Spurgeon. “This problem has to be addressed now, because our ability to provide high-quality utility services to both current and future customers is vital to continued economic growth in Broken Arrow.”

The City will pay for the utility systems improvements through the utility rates charged to customers and a possible General Obligation Bond that voters could consider in late 2017 or early 2018.  

Under the proposed plan, a typical residential customer using 7,000 gallons of water per month could see their water bill increase between $2.45 to $3.36 per month and their sewer bill increase between $2.31 to $3.57 per month.  The stormwater fee will increase by $0.76. The plan calls for a rate increase once a year for five years. The City Council must approve the change before it goes into effect.

The City’s aging infrastructure has not kept up with growth. Capital improvement investments are needed to minimize service disruptions, ensure the system works as intended and comply with state and federal regulatory standards.

As a result, rate increases are needed to fund the replacement of old sewer and water lines, upgrade the wastewater treatment plants, as well as pay the loan on the new Verdigris River Water Treatment Plant.

View the complete Capital Improvement Plan here. 
View a video showing some of the problems and Q&A with City Manager Michael Spurgeon.