I and other Council members received a number of e-mails inquiring about an article in the Saturday Dallas Morning News that proclaimed Garland to have the highest combined water and sewer costs of thirteen Metroplex cities.
 
Even though the article was written about a pending decision in Richardson, an accompanying chart in the print edition left Garland as the odd man out, putting Garland at the very top as to highest rates with $942. The chart was compiled from information supplied by Richardson. Garland wasn't contacted for information so we didn't have opportunity to correct their data or assumptions.

However, the chart was wrong. It purported to show the "annual amount a typical customer pays" for water and wastewater in each city. For water only, Garland showed $386, with only three cities cheaper. For wastewater, it showed Garland to have an annual sewer cost of $556, which is not accurate. The correct figure would be $419.
 

Admittedly the formula for calculating the sewer rate is a little complicated. Sharon Rinewalt in Customer Service explains it like this:

 
Bills will be based on ninety-eight (98) percent of the actual water volume not to exceed the customer’s individual ceiling. The individual ceiling is ninety-eight (98) percent of the average metered water volume billed during the previous December–March period for that specific customer.
 
If a customer in Garland used 8,000 gallons from October through May, then that customer’s sewer bill for the year would be based on 98% of that 8,000 (or 7,840 gallons). This would lower the annual sewer bill for the Garland resident to $419 rather than the $556 quoted in the article.
 

The Garland formula assumes the water that comes out of the spout in the winter months also goes down the drain, or at least 98% does. We then use that amount for calculating the sewer rates. In the summer months, the water we use for our lawns or to refill the swimming pool or to zip across the lawn on a Slip-n-Slide, isn't counted as going down the sewer. It's not a perfect algorithm but it is pretty reasonable for most residential users.

Calculated accurately, the combined total in the chart should have been $805, which moves us to third place on the list. Not the top but pretty high — we go from tenth place for just water to third for both rates combined. Our expenses for processing sewage is high right now. Again, Ms Rinewalt explains:

 
While this is still at the high end of area sewer rates, it is reflective of maintaining our aging collection system, and completing an aggressive capital improvement program at the treatment plants to meet TCEQ regulations.
 

So, where does that money go? Here is a breakdown of the wastewater budget:

• Salary & Benefits: $6.2 million (18%)
• Electricity and Chemicals: $3.5 million (10%)
• Debt Service: $11.7 million (34%)
• Other Operations and Capital: $4.1 million (12%)
• Internal Support Services: $2.9 million (8%)
• General Fund: $4.8 million (14%)
• Subsidies and Supports: $1.4 million (4%)

For more of the overall picture:

• Water sales: 11.117 billion gallons (9/30/07)
• Wastewater usage: 9.57 billion gallons (9/30/07)
• Overhead Water Towers: 2
• Groundlevel Storage Facilities: 8
• Water Pump Stations: 6
• Sewer Lift Stations: 12
• Wastewater Treatment Plants: 2
• Laboratory and Testing Facilities: 1
• Water Mains: 1,096 Miles
• Sewer Lines: 1,000 Miles

All this is funded entirely by water and wastewater rates.
 

3 comments

Comments:

Comment from: Les Cook [Visitor]

Doug, thanks for the details on our extra high Garland Utility charges. I am amazed on your detailed City accounting and would like to remind you that I still have not been able to view the City of Garland Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) or Audited Statements for Year ended 9/30/2007. Is there still a problem with getting the City's Auditor to sign off? Can you tell us when CAFR will be released? I would like to reconcile the numbers you published to the Official City Numbers. Normally, most other Cities set their Utility rates based on prudent Regulatory Policy that requires a "Cost of Service" study similar to that "GP&L Cost of Service and Rate Study" that has still not been released. Wouldn't it be better for Citizens to view the details of their Utility Costs & rates from the Official City Web Site rather than a Political Blog Site? Anyway, I would appreciate an update of status of past due Garland 2007 CAFR and 2005 or 06? (I have lost track of date it has been so long) Cost of Service Study. What is our City Paid help doing for Citizens in the way of financial information these days anyway? Maybe they (City) needs to put you on the payroll.

05/15/08 @ 13:57

Comment from: Douglas [Member] · http://www.douglasathas.net

The CAFR has been further delayed as a result of the on-going internal fraud investigation (http://douglasathas.net/blogs/index.php/2008/03/26/fraud). I'm told that any such discovery significantly increases the level of quality control reviews by auditors. However, we have been able to meet all requirements from outside agencies. Staff expects an audit opinion maybe as early as next week.

The figures I used in my post come from the most recent budget presentations.

05/16/08 @ 10:34

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08/08/08 @ 06:16

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