Utility Rate Increase/Impact Fees Public Comment from Devonna MorganDevonna Morgan
117 Wedgewood Ln
Kalispell, MT 59901
February 21, 2020
City of Kalispell
Regarding: Proposed Sewer/Water Rate Increases
Normally I would not be compelled to write about proposed rate increases; I do understand the affect of inflation,
regulation, and deferred maintenance on our city services and rates.
But I am very concerned about the proposed "first year" rate increase for Sewer. It appears to be way out of line for
current users. 1 feel that "future growth" of this facility should be the burden of "new users" and that cost should be
built in your new user impact fee calculation. This concern also applies to "New Source Development" for water
services.
Considering the growth of Kalispell with annexation, I feel that new users need to consider that to be a cost of doing
business as their impact with our community.
I'm a visual person, so developed a spreadsheet so I could understand how that impact would look for me, and as you
can see, the first year impact of these increases is significant to the remaining annual increases that look more like the
effect a rate of inflation.
Annual %
Water
Sewer
Monthly
Annual
increase
Current
22.88
37.12
60.00
720.00
July 2020
24.72
55.45
80.17
962.04
134%
July 2021
27.20
59.03
86.23
11034.76
108%
July 2022
29.78
62.84
92.62
13111.44
107%
July 2023
32.59
66.95
99.54
11194.48
107%
July 2024
33. 58
71.30
104. 88
11258.56
105%
July 2025
34.58
73.47
108.05
11296.60
103%
July 2026
35.60
75.65
111.25
1, 335.00
103%
Again, I feel that current users should not be expected to pay such a huge first year sewer rate increase and that
belongs to new users, who should be paying that with an increased construction user impact fee.
Devonna Morgan
bill mor@gyberL39rt.net
406/752-5047