06/23/26 City Commission Work Session

The City of Manhattan, Kansas held a City Commission Work Session on June 23, 2026, focusing primarily on updates and discussions related to utility funds, rates, and capital improvement projects. The meeting included a detailed presentation by the Director of Public Utilities, Randy DeWitt, on water and wastewater utility fund balances, consumption projections, and proposed rate increases. Staff recommended a 3% increase in water rates for 2027, while no increase was proposed for wastewater rates. The discussion also covered the financial health of the utility funds, debt service obligations, and the need for future cost of service studies to guide rate structures. Additionally, the commission reviewed stormwater fund revenues and expenses, including a proposed 6% increase in stormwater rates to support ongoing capital projects and debt service. The meeting also addressed franchise fees related to utilities and the potential to increase these fees from 4% to 6% to help offset debt service costs. The commission agreed to incorporate these assumptions into the upcoming city manager's recommended budget. No formal votes were recorded during the session, but consensus was reached on the rate and fee increase assumptions to be included in the budget process.