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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, February 11, 2013 Page 28 Councilmember Etten questioned the feasibility of a means test that would be practical for staff to perform; with Finance Director Miller suggesting the easiest application would be through federal means testing by applicants providing a copy of their income tax returns. However, Mr. Miller did not see many qualify- ing under that type of means test. Mayor Roe noted that the poverty rate is not staff verified, only an honor system. Councilmember Laliberte concurred with eliminating the senior discount as it is now known; and if those seniors qualified on a means-tested basis, they could continue to receive the discount. However, with the current system, Coun- cilmember Laliberte opined that there didn't appear to be a sufficient balance right now for other residents having to carry that burden. Councilmember Etten noted that other users may not be getting a fair rate when they may actually qualify. Councilmember Laliberte spoke in support of removing the consumption rate and questioned where that mandate had originated; opining that if you have more peo- ple in your house, a flat rate meant you paid more, and if fewer people, you paid less. Councilmember Etten spoke in support of means-testing versus a senior discount to better serve the community without overly taxing staff, and opined that it seemed to be a reasonable approach. Mayor Roe noted that people receiving deferment of their property taxes, as tested by Ramsey County,may be another testing option; however he noted that not eve- ryone who pays property taxes also pays water bills. Finance Director Miller advised that he would further research the threshold for Ramsey County versus the federal poverty threshold. Regarding why the CIP Task Force went in the direction they did, Mayor Roe ad- vised was due to their thorough review of base rates, levies, bonding. Through bonding done consistently over twenty (20) years, Mayor Roe advised that the in- terest would be incurred annually; while pay-as-you-go could be matched to rates on an annual basis, and would be easier for rate payers. Regarding putting the in- frastructure costs on the tax levy versus fees paid, Mayor Roe advised that not everyone using water (e.g. non-profits such as schools and churches) paid proper- ty taxes and that didn't seem to be fair to the overall city taxpayer. As it is now set up, Mayor Roe noted that everyone receiving water service paid a base rate, and the usage rate based on the City's rate received from the City of St. Paul; with higher users not subsidizing infrastructure costs. Mayor Roe noted that it didn't