TETON VALLEY, IDA – The City of Victor owns, operates, and maintains the water and sewer systems that serve Victor’s residents along with the irrigation distribution system that serves residents in Victor’s old town, roughly the area south of Cedron/Aspen Streets, north of Elm Street, west of Baseline Road, and east of Crystal Avenue. Each year, the city conducts an analysis of each system to assure that each is financially self-supporting.
Sewer Rates: The sewer analysis recommends that the monthly rate increase by $2.77 per month, from $47.49 to $50.26 per month. The monthly rate includes two components, the collection system within Victor city limits and fees paid to the City of Driggs for debt service and sewage treatment at the wastewater treatment plant, which is owned and operated by the City of Driggs.
Of the proposed $50.26 monthly rate, $22.83 would be allocated towards maintenance and operation of the collection system within city limits and $27.43 is allocated towards fees paid to the City of Driggs for both debt service and sewage treatment.
Public Hearing Information: The proposed rate increase to date has been presented to City Council as part of its annual budget process. At the upcoming August 8 city council meeting, there will be a public hearing regarding the sewer rate increase. The meeting will begin at 7pm at Victor City Hall located at 32 Elm Street and public comment will be taken.
As always, the City of Victor welcomes and encourages all public comment. Please submit comments in writing to Victor City Hall, PO Box 122, Victor ID 83455 or by fax, 208-787-2357. Public comment may also be emailed to oliviag@victorcityidaho.com.
Water and Irrigation Rates: Water services are billed through seasonal summer and winter rates. The summer seasonal rate comprises of a base rate in addition to a tiered usage rate while the winter seasonal rate comprises of a base rate for the first 33,000 gallons used, an amount rarely surpassed.
The water analysis recommends a $0.78 increase to the monthly summer base water rate from $43.37 to $44.15 plus a five-cent increase to the first tier for 0- 6,000 gallons used from $1.46 to $1.51 per 1,000 gallons. It goes on to recommend a $1.10 increase in the winter water usage rate from $52.13 to $53.23.
The irrigation fee analysis recommends a slight increase of $1.46 per year/per acre to the annual irrigation fee, from $126.12 to $127.58 per year/per acre. The irrigation fee is an annual fee that is assessed once per year on a per acre basis. Because the city owns, operates, and maintains the irrigation distribution system in old town only, residents outside of old town are not affected. Parcels within old town that do not hold water rights are also not affected.
The city also holds the water rights in Golf Vista Subdivision but does not maintain the privately-owned distribution system. As such, residents in Golf Vista Subdivision will continue pay the user fee only which increased by ten cents to $20.12 per year/per acre.
Both the proposed water and irrigation rates will be presented to City Council for formal approval during the August 8, 2018 City Council meeting. Because the rate increases are less than 5% and a public hearing is therefore not required, public comment cannot be taken at the meeting. However, written comments are encouraged to be submitted to Victor City Hall, PO Box 122, Victor ID 83455; by fax, 208-787-2357; or by email to oliviag@victorcityidaho.com.
The detailed analyses are available on the Victor City website at victorcityidaho.com.
