NLV water, sewer rate hike vote delayed

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 | 11:17 a.m.

Public hearings and votes on possible water and sewer rate increases for North Las Vegas customers, scheduled for Wednesday, have been postponed until Sept. 17.

The delay will give city staff and a citizens advisory board more time to review proposed increases. City staff originally recommended rate increases that would almost double the average customer's water and sewer bill by October 2005.

City Assistant Public Works Director David Bereskin said he and other department staff members will look for ways to reduce the proposed increases.

The increases proposed by city staff would be phased in with rate hikes Oct. 1 and the two following Octobers, Bereskin said. Sewer charges would increase more than water rates under the proposal, which would raise water rates for the first time in seven years and sewer rates for the first time in 10 years.

The larger increases on sewer bills would be the result of the city switching from a flat sewer charge for residential customers, which is now $13.34 a month, to a use-based rate that would be capped at $33.42 a month after Oct. 1, 2005.

The city Utility Advisory Board, a citizens panel that will recommend rate adjustments to the council, has not acted on possible sewer rate changes.

The board has recommended that the council slightly lower water rate increases that staff has suggested.