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It was staff's intention to time the rate methodology change with the update of the MWMC's <br />financial plan. That would occur in time for this coming year's budget cycle. She noted that the <br />public works directors of the two cities had raised concerns about the sensitivity of the timing of <br />impacts of the increases in SDCs on the development community. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Councilor Pap6, Ms. Smith clarified that MWMC was not <br />collecting enough SDCs to fund an entire capital program. That was due to the fact the regional <br />facilities were largely funded by federal grant moneys, and the MWMC could not collect a <br />reimbursement SDC for the capital costs underwritten by those dollars. Consequently, the <br />MWMC was "SDC poor" and to have adequate capital resources, the SDC must be supplemented <br />by user-rate funded contributions. Councilor Pap6 expressed concern about building reserves and <br />increasing fees to build enhancements he and other current ratepayers might not enjoy in the <br />future. Ms. Smith noted that capacity expansions were funded by the SDC improvement <br />component. Councilor Pap6 said that concerned him; if the money was being used for <br />replacement, that was acceptable, but if the MWMC was using the money for future enhancements <br />and smoothing the rates, he preferred that the enhancement be built when those who would benefit <br />could pay. Ms. Smith said that there were three components that make up the capital programs, <br />and the CIP is one part of that; another part was major rehabilitation and yet another was <br />equipment replacement. Staff identified the element of each project needed for capacity expansion, <br />and that was funded from the improvement component of the SDC. The remaining capital <br />programs were funded by a combination of reimbursement revenues and user rate contributions <br />that were budgeted to the capital reserve each year. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman agreed with Councilor Rayor about the ten-year planning horizon. <br /> <br />Ms. Smith referred the council to Figure 9 in the MWMC's proposed budget, Capital Programs 5 <br />Year Plan, and pointed out the spikes between the out years. She said that using the SDC in <br />combination with the user rate contribution, the commission attempted to budget and manage <br />using a five-year view. In addition, the commission had a "pay-as-you-go" philosophy and had no <br />debt. To do so and manage spikes, sometimes it was necessary to build the reserves. The financial <br />plan update, which the MWMC would review at the end of the summer and which the three local <br />jurisdictions would be asked to adopt, would revisit the "pay-as-you-go" philosophy, which could <br />impact the reserves accumulated in any given year. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman reiterated her interest in seeing the SDC revenues and expenditures tracked <br />separately. She could not support the budget unless she saw where the $4 million in reserves <br />would be spent and when it would be spent. She said that the ratepayers were subsidizing capital <br />improvements that she thought should be paid for with SDCs. Ms. Smith said that the <br />documentation requested was available and could be provided. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman asked if there was council support for delaying the vote on the budget. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 10, 2002 Page 5 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />