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Attachment 1 <br />Memo <br />To: Roseville Finance Commission <br />From: Michelle Pietrick, Finance Director <br />Date: October 14, 2025 <br />Subject: Review of the 2026 Proposed Utility Rates and adopt a recommendation for the City <br />Council <br />Background <br />Unlike many city services that are supported by property taxes, the City's utility or enterprise operations <br />are funded primarily by user fees and are operated as separate, stand-alone functions. The City engaged <br />Ehlers to perform an updated utility rate study in 2024 of the Water, Sewer and Storm Drainage Funds. <br />The utility rate study recommendations were used for the 2026 utility rates in these funds. <br />Operational Review <br />Water Fund Operations <br />The updated Utility Rate Study done by Ehlers on the Water Fund recommends a 5.5% increase in <br />rates for 2025-2028 to cover fixed and variable costs, debt service and replenishment of fund reserves. <br />St. Paul Regional Water increased their rate charged to Roseville by 9%, which is the main driver of <br />our needed increases. In addition, this fund is still working on building fund reserves to cover the <br />minimum for operations and capital. <br />Storm Drainage Operations <br />The City provides for the management of storm water drainage to prevent flooding and pollution <br />control, as well as the street sweeping program. The updated utility rate study recommended a 0% <br />increase for 2026 and this is adequate to cover operating and capital needs at this time. <br />Sanitary Sewer Operations <br />The City maintains a sanitary sewer collection system to ensure the general public's health and general <br />welfare. Met Council increased their rates by 1.06% for fiscal year 2026. The updated utility rate <br />study recommends a 2% increase; the increase for the past 2 years has been held to 0%. Public Works <br />previously deferred capital projects to accommodate the 0% increase. Based on the 2026-2045 CIP, a <br />2% increase is necessary at this time. See the chart below: <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Page 15 of 27 <br />