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Dunkirk's water rate proposal didn't make it to a vote at the last Common Council meeting, and "I take full responsibility," City Comptroller Tracy Smith-Dengler said this week.
Speaking at a Common Council Finance Committee meeting, Smith-Dengler said she did not realize she had to get it approved for the agenda of that particular meeting. She promised that it will be on the agenda for consideration at the next council meeting. Smith-Dengler is a relatively new city employee in a brand new position, taking the comptroller job in July.
Smith-Dengler went on to call the water rate proposal, which would raise prices and end discounts for large industrial users, "a hugely important initiative."
She said of the city's water fund, "It is designed to be an enterprise fund, which means it should do nothing but make money."
Councilwoman Natalie Luczkowiak briefly expressed discomfort with the proposal. She stated that the hike in water prices for all residents and the end of the "declining block rate" for industrial users are separate issues, and ought to be handled in two local laws. Both issues are currently covered in one proposed law, and Luczkowiak threatened to vote against it if that situation remains.
Councilman-at-large Nick Weiser, the Finance Committee chair, said it was important to note that a public hearing has already been held on the proposed law. Luczkowiak's route would require redrafting into two separate laws and new public hearings, he said.
Mayor Kate Wdowiasz sought to point out that nobody spoke during the public hearing on the water rates law. "I cannot put together a budget without knowing that dollar amount" of projected revenue from water rates, she said.
Smith-Dengler said the state Comptroller's Office "knows our (water) revenue is not sufficient."
A key part of the proposal is raising the "base rate" that all customers pay, regardless of usage, from $20 to $30. Councilman Gary Frederickson wanted to know if that $10 hike is necessary.
Smith-Dengler responded that it is. "What we are doing is going to stop us from losing money." She added that it is "just a first phase," a suggestion that more rate hikes may be in the future.
In addition, the current sliding rate scale for industrial users is "counterproductive," she said.
Former Councilwoman Nancy Nichols complained that Dunkirk's residents do not understand the water rate hike. She said city officials need to do a better job of explaining and justifying it. Nichols called for a "clear vision of the water increase."
Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury -- who earlier stated a desire to write up an explanation of "where we come from" -- offered a dollar figure of the potential effect on residents. He stated water prices would go up about 19 cents per day for a household that uses a "normal" amount of water. That works out to $69.35 a year.
"We're catching up on a lot of years of underfunded rates," he said.
Luczkowiak asked for proof that the city's water fund is underfunded. Woodbury promised to give it to her.