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Attachment B <br />without the need for borrowing again until 2031. The water fund will need to bond for projects in <br />2026 while we don't recommend any borrowing for the sewer fund at this time. <br />Managing Revenue Volatility <br />The Study looked at the fixed vs. variable costs of the Sewer Fund, which was new to the Study this <br />year. Fixed costs are defined as those the City will incur regardless of sewer flows. This definition is <br />consistent with how we approached the Water and Storm Drainage funds back in 2020. These fixed <br />costs should be paid for with the Fixed Rate. Current charges cover approximately 106.6% of <br />budgeted 2022 fixed costs. Therefore, we do not recommend any changes to the existing fixed <br />charges at this time. <br />Lookback of Water Fund Rates <br />Whenever there are significant changes to water rate structures, a follow-up review is <br />recommended to determine if the rates are generating appropriate revenues and, specifically, if <br />conservation rates are having the desired effect. New water rates were adopted effective January <br />1, 2021. Ehlers looked at the 2021 revenues and determined the new rate structure was not correctly <br />entered into the City's utility billing software for residential and commercial accounts. Apartments <br />and irrigation accounts were billed correctly. Staff has already made the necessary changes to the <br />system to bill correctly going forward. An analysis of the underbilled accounts is still in process. The <br />study assumes that a portion of the under billings will be recouped in 2022 and that rates are correct <br />for 2023 and beyond. <br />As a result, we were unable to determine if the new rate structure for the water fund is having the <br />desired effect. We recommend the Study be updated again in 2024 to review this issue. <br />Competitiveness <br />We compared Roseville's existing 2022 and proposed 2023 rates for residential accounts to <br />comparable communities. The proposed 2023 rates remain competitive for fully developed <br />communities. <br />City of Roseville, MN <br />Utility Rate Study Memo Page 2 October 2022 <br />