Fillmore weighs raising its $12 sewer rate as lagoon planning nears completion
Mayor Curt Hare recommended raising Fillmore's flat monthly sewer rate from $12 to $22 while a usage-based structure is developed. The council has set aside $600,000 of sewer fund surplus for lagoon engineering. The audited Sewer Fund took in $205,894 in charges in fiscal 2026.
Continuing story: Auditing Fillmore
Fillmore's mayor has recommended raising the city's flat sewer charge from $12 to $22 a month as the city prepares to seek state money for a new sewer lagoon, according to council minutes. [1]
The proposal
At the council's Sept. 8 meeting, Mayor Curt Hare said "the sewer fund has operated at an annual deficit" and that "the City must increase rates to qualify for grant funding," according to the minutes. The council approved those minutes on Sept. 22. [1][2]
The minutes say the city charges "a flat sewer rate of $12.00 per month." Hare recommended raising the interim flat rate by $10.00 a month, for a total of $22.00, until a permanent structure is adopted. The minutes describe that permanent structure as tiered, "similar to the existing water rate structure." [1]
The council discussed commercial rates, which are currently based on winter water usage. The minutes record no motion or vote on a sewer rate. [1]
At the Sept. 22 meeting, Councilmember Stevens reported that "the base residential sewer rate was last increased in June 1999." [2]
The lagoon
The Sept. 8 minutes say the city plans to apply for state funding in October to build a new sewer lagoon. [1]
On Aug. 25, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 26-16, which moved $600,000 of Sewer Fund surplus balance into Sewer Fund revenue accounts for the new sewer lagoon project. The hearing notice said the money was for engineering and design services for the lagoon expansion. [3][6]
On Sept. 22, Councilmember Stevens reported that "the engineering and planning phase of the sewer lagoon project is approximately 90 percent complete." [2]
What the audit shows
For the year ended June 30, 2026, the audited Sewer Fund reported $205,894 in charges for services and $204,152 in operating expenses, including $53,351 of depreciation. Its operating income was $1,742. [4]
The fund also recorded $360,164 in impact fees, and its net position grew by $360,951, to $3,737,463. [4]
At June 30, 2026, the Sewer Fund held $1,859,474 in cash, and its statement of net position lists no bonds payable. Construction in progress across the utility funds was $267,433. [5][7]
The minutes do not say what period or measure the mayor's deficit statement refers to. [1]
Water demand
The Sept. 8 minutes also record a well-siting study. They say the closure of Mountain View Mushrooms has reduced demand on the city's water system, which may allow a proposed well and an additional storage tank to be deferred until more capacity is needed. [1]
The $22 rate is a recommendation recorded in minutes, not an adopted rate. The mayor's statement about an annual deficit is reported as recorded in the minutes. The audited operating figures are on an accrual basis and include $53,351 of depreciation.
Sources
- Fillmore City Council · Minutes, Sept. 8, 2026
- Fillmore City Council · Minutes, Sept. 22, 2026
- Fillmore City Council · Minutes, Aug. 25, 2026
- Fillmore City · Financial statements, year ended June 30, 2026 (filed with the Utah State Auditor), proprietary fund revenues, expenses and changes in net position
- Fillmore City · Financial statements, year ended June 30, 2026 (filed with the Utah State Auditor), proprietary fund statement of net position
- Fillmore City Council · Public hearing notice, Aug. 25, 2026 budget amendments
- Fillmore City · Financial statements, year ended June 30, 2026 (filed with the Utah State Auditor), management's discussion and analysis, capital assets
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.