Rowlett council agrees to advance rate option that shifts more wastewater costs to commercial accounts

Council members at a Rowlett City Council work session on July 17 agreed by consensus to advance a rate structure labeled "scenario 6" for inclusion in the FY27 proposed budget, after a consultant presented six modeling options.

Jason Gray, the consultant who presented the scenarios, told the council the model shows scenario 6 shifts more wastewater base charges onto larger meter sizes. Chair (speaking as the meeting’s presiding official) said the group should move forward: "I will go with 6 because that is the consensus" (Chair). Council members emphasized this was a policy direction to staff, not a formal ordinance or vote.

Why it matters: under the consultant’s FY27 examples, the average residential combined water/wastewater bill (7,500–7,900 gallons) rises from about $1.42 today to roughly $1.61 under scenario 6, while average commercial examples could rise from about $4.98 to $6.71 depending on meter size and usage. The consultant said reallocating more charges to commercial customers would generate roughly $200,000 in additional annual revenue.

Council asked staff to prepare clear, meter-size–specific average-bill examples for the public and to show the city’s budget presentation how scenario 6 impacts small businesses and multifamily properties. Staff emphasized the decision to advance scenario 6 will be part of the upcoming proposed budget outreach and that a formal adoption (if any) would occur through the budget and ordinance process.