MF budget set with water rate increases

September 05, 2012, 9:30 am by Adam Troxtell

Marble Falls has set a new budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, including a three percent increase in employee wages and an increase in water rates.

Two ordinances were passed by the city council Tuesday night that directly affect the budget. The first was to set the budget, which staff has been working on throughout the summer in workshops. It incorporates an increase in pay for city staff for the first time in three years, something officials said was a major goal early on in the budgeting process.

The budget was also drawn up with an increase in water rates for some Marble Falls citizens. Those on the lower end of the usage scale will see their rates drop slightly, while bills for those on the higher end will stay about the same. But, the city will start charging for all water usage, meaning even using the smallest amount will cost more. The changes will have an effect on both sides of the water-wastewater budget, but it will be balanced.

"There is an increase of 2.8 percent in revenue for water-wastewater funds and 2.9 percent in expenditures,” Director of Finance Margie Cardenas said.

The city also banned the sale of bulk water for resale purposes to those outside the city limits in times when Marble Falls is under Stage 3 drought restrictions.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.

Reader Comments

They balance the budget by increasing the water use tax on the ones that use the least and reward the ones that use higher volumes of water. Hendrix screams you have to cut down water usage, then rases the taxes on the ones that do???
September 06, 2012, 8:38am by Getitright