Click the link to read the article on the Steamboat Pilot & Today website (Suzie Romig). Here’s an excerpt:
October 11, 2024
With aging water and sewer pipe infrastructure dating to the early 1970s, a water main break repair and a section of line replacement in the Steamboat II Metropolitan District in 2022 cost more than $500,000…Those types of expensive repairs hit hard for the special taxing district that currently has $600,000 in reserves for capital improvements, said Jeb Brewster, a mechanical engineer and Steamboat II metro district manager since April. Regional experts say shortages in funds to repair aging infrastructure is a problem threatening various residential-based special taxing districts across Routt County that do not have as deep of pockets as cities and counties.
So, the Steamboat II district that serves water and sewer customers for some 420 residential properties, two schools and a church is faced with approving a proposed water and sewer combined rate jump of approximately 46%. The five-member volunteer district board is expected to vote on the increase at its next meeting Oct. 21…Metro district leaders note the water and sewer base rates charged to their customers have not increased significantly for at least 20 years except for minor increases in usage tiers. Water tap fees for homes being built helped supplement the budget in the past, but now the district is very close to full build-out.