At the May 11, 2026 Weiser City Council meeting, staff requested approval to engage a professional service provider to perform a wastewater rate study after the 2025 City Audit showed the Wastewater Department operating in deficit. The study will evaluate current rates and connection fees, consider impact versus connection fee structures, and examine aging wastewater infrastructure to project funding needs, with an estimated professional services cost of about 17500 and a target completion by September 1, 2026. Council approved authorizing the mayor to sign for these professional services, meaning a consultant/engineering firm will now be engaged to conduct the analysis and develop multi‑year rate projections. This is relevant for firms offering utility financial planning, asset management, or follow‑on design/CM services, as the study’s findings will likely drive future capital projects, modernization work, and possible implementation of new fee structures or asset reinvestment programs over the next five to ten years.

The study will be an engineered analysis that supports potential rate and connection fee increases a...