From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
A $38.7 million budget that will mean a 3 percent rate increase for customers was approved Tuesday by the Pueblo Board of Water Works.
The rate increase will mean a little more than $1 per month increase for the typical customer.
The budget also sets rates for private fire protection, the Downtown water dispensing station and metered hydrant sales. Rates for water used outside service boundaries are 1.5 times higher.
Included in items related to the budget are a 0.79 cost-of-living increase for employees and other employee benefits. The benefits are negotiated year-round by committee and generate little friction.
“The staff should be commended for working year-round on the employee benefits package,” said board member Jim Gardner.
No one showed up to comment at the budget hearing, and most of the details already had been explained to the board at a workshop last week.