Enterprise Fund Budgets and Utility Rate Review; Bishop
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Nick Bishop, Finance Director
Date: October 11, 2022
Subject: Enterprise Fund Budgets and Utility Rate Review
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE
No formal action is required at this meeting. Staff is requesting input on the proposed
budgets for enterprise funds and utility rates.
INFORMATION
Pavilion Fund
The Hopkins Pavilion is a multi-use, year-round arena and community facility. The
arena is used for a multitude of activities including ice skating, broomball, soccer,
lacrosse, inline skating, rugby, baseball, softball, concerts, company picnics and other
community and private events. The main revenue sources are a property tax levy,
facility rentals and leases. The main expenses are depreciation, salary, benefits and
bond interest. The budget is projecting a decrease in net position of $261,961, which
includes $477,786 of depreciation. The funds cash flow is projected to increase.
Pavilion Proposed
2022 2023 %age
Budget Budget Incr (Decr)
Revenues 836,500$ 819,000$ -2.09%
Expenditures 1,086,448$ 1,080,961$ -0.51%
Revenues over (under) Expenditures (249,948)$ (261,961)$
Finance Department
Utility Funds
The City has four separate utility funds to provide: water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer
and refuse collection services. They are classified as enterprise or business-type
funds. The main source of revenue for all funds is user charges. The main expenses
are salaries, benefits, depreciation, bond costs, municipal wastewater charges and
contracted services for recycling and organic pickup. Collectively, the funds are
projected to end the year with a cash balance of $5.8 million and a net position (fund
balance) of 29.3 million. The sanitary sewer, storm sewer and refuse funds have a
positive cash flow projection in 2022. The water fund is projected to slightly decrease its
cash position in 2022, which can be absorbed within the fund.
Water Proposed
2022 2023 %a ge
Budget Budget Incr (Decr)
Revenues 2,366,750$ 2,513,000$ 6.18%
Expenditures 2,364,599$ 2,627,587$ 11.12%
Revenues over (under) Expenditures 2,151$ (114,587)$
Sanitary Sewer Proposed
2022 2023 %a ge
Budget Budget Incr (Decr)
Revenues 3,213,750$ 3,460,000$ 7.66%
Expenditures 3,152,338$ 3,397,964$ 7.79%
Revenues over (under) Expenditures 61,412$ 62,036$
Storm Sewer Proposed
2022 2023 %age
Budget Budget Incr (Decr)
Revenues 792,332$ 793,522$ 0.15%
Expenditures 679,722$ 819,000$ 20.49%
Revenues over (under) Expenditures 112,610$ (25,478)$
Refuse Proposed
2022 2023 %a ge
Budget Budget Incr (Decr)
Revenues 1,254,420$ 1,271,200$ 1.34%
Expenditures 1,329,059$ 1,324,891$ -0.31%
Revenues over (under) Expenditures (74,639)$ (53,691)$
Water & Sanitary Sewer Rates
Proposed Water and Sanitary Sewer fund budgets have been prepared for 2023. The
Water and Sanitary Sewer budgets being proposed include rate increases of
approximately 7% based on operational needs, capital needs and debt repayment. The
City has a tiered rate structure for water consumption.
2022 2022 Percent
Current Proposed Increase
Flat Rates Per Meter Per Month
Residential - 5/8" meter 3.12 3.34 7.05%
Residential - 1" meter 3.12 3.34 7.05%
Apt/Commercial - 1-1/2" to 2" meter 6.25 6.69 7.04%
Apt/Commercial - 3" meter 9.38 10.04 7.04%
Apt/Commercial - 4" meter 12.48 13.35 6.97%
Apt/Commercial - 6" meter 18.73 20.04 6.99%
Consumption Rates, Per 1,000 Gallons
Residential and Multi-Family
0 - 3,000 gallons 3.20 3.42 6.87%
3,001 - 5,000 gallons 3.68 3.94 7.07%
5,001 and over 4.22 4.52 7.11%
Commercial
0 - 10,000 gallons 3.06 3.27 6.86%
10,001 - 20,000 gallons 3.50 3.75 7.14%
20,001 and over 4.04 4.32 6.93%
Irrigation - all usage 3.82 4.09 7.07%
Production meter 3.22 3.45 7.14%
Sanitary Sewer 7.08 7.58 7.06%
The two following charts show the impact of the water and sewer rate increases for
different user types.
Actual 2021 Proposed
2022 $ Increase % Increase
Single Family Residential (Lower User)
Water (1,500 Gallons)7.92$ 8.47$ 0.55$ 6.94%
Sewer (1,500 Gallons)10.62$ 11.37$ 0.75$ 7.06%
Total Monthly Bill 18.54$ 19.84$ 1.30$ 7.01%
Single Family Residential (Median User)
Water (4,000 Gallons)16.40$ 17.54$ 1.14$ 6.95%
Sewer (3,000 Gallons)21.24$ 22.74$ 1.50$ 7.06%
Total Monthly Bill 37.64$ 40.28$ 2.64$ 7.01%
Single Family Residential (High User)
Water (8,800 Gallons)36.12$ 38.66$ 2.54$ 7.03%
Sewer (4,800 Gallons)33.98$ 36.38$ 2.40$ 7.06%
Total Monthly Bill 70.10$ 75.04$ 4.94$ 7.05%
Impact on Low, Median and High Residential User
Actual 2021 Proposed
2022 $ Increase % Increase
Commercial Property (Low User with a 1" Meter)
Water (3,000 Gallons)15.43$ 16.50$ 1.07$ 6.93%
Sewer (3,000 Gallons)21.24$ 22.74$ 1.50$ 7.06%
Total Monthly Bill 36.67$ 39.24$ 2.57$ 7.01%
Commercial Property (High User with a 2" Meter)
Water (35,000 Gallons)132.45$ 141.69$ 9.24$ 6.98%
Sewer (35,000 Gallons)247.80$ 265.30$ 17.50$ 7.06%
Total Monthly Bill 380.25$ 406.99$ 26.74$ 7.03%
Impact on Low and High Commercial User
Storm Sewer Rates
A proposed Storm Sewer fund budget has been prepared for 2022. Residential storm
sewer fees are $5.00/month. There is no proposed rate increase.
Refuse Rates
A proposed Refuse fund budget has been prepared for 2023. New rates and rate
increases are being proposed for operational needs. The current refuse collection rates
remain unchanged from 2022. A new option for every-other-week pick up is also being
proposed. The memo from Pam Hove, Solid Waste Coordinator, is attached explaining
the program. The City has a five year contract with an outside service provider to
provide recycling and organic recycling. Rates are being increased based the contract.
2022 2023 Percent
Current Proposed Increase
Refuse Collection
35 Gallon - Every Other Week N/A 13.85 100.00%
35 Gallon 18.85 18.85 0.00%
65 Gallon 22.85 22.85 0.00%
95 Gallon 26.30 26.30 0.00%
Pick up - Once in Two Weeks
Recycling 5.25 5.50 4.76%
Organic Recycling 5.50 5.75 4.55%
Annual Service Cost for Median Value Home
Based on the preliminary tax levy passed on September 6th and the utility rates
proposed in this memo the annual service cost for a median value home is projected to
increase by $246.80 or $20.57 per month. The median value home was $315,000 in
2021 and $361,000 in 2022.
Actual Proposed
2022 2023 $ Increase % Increase
City Property Taxes (3.45% Levy Increase)2,003.00$ 2,188.00$ 185.00$ 9.24%
Water - Consumption
7,500 gallons per month
$3.20/$3.68/$4.22 Tiered Rates 367.56$
$3.42/$3.94/$4.52 Tiered Rates 393.36$
Sewer - Consumption
5,000 gallons per month
$7.08/ 1,000 gallons 424.80$
$7.58/ 1,000 gallons 454.80$
Refuse Collection
Garbage, 65 Gallon 274.20$ 274.20$ -$ 0.00%
Recycling 63.00$ 66.00$ 3.00$ 4.76%
Organic Recycling 66.00$ 69.00$ 3.00$ 4.55%
Storm Sewer 60.00$ 60.00$ -$ 0.00%
Franchise Fees 84.00$ 84.00$ -$ 0.00%
Total 3,342.56$ 3,589.36$ 246.80$ 7.38%
25.80$
30.00$
Annual Service Cost for Median Value Home
7.02%
7.06%
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Pam Hove, Solid Waste Coordinator
Date: October 11, 2022
Subject: Proposal of Every-Other-Week Garbage Service in 2023
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE
Staff proposes to Council that the City offer a reduced level of garbage service at a
reduced rate.
INFORMATION
Hopkins requires all single-family, duplex, triplex and four-plex properties to have City
refuse service. Approximately 22% of the City’s refuse customers have the minimum
level of garbage service, the 35 gallon cart, which is currently charged at $18.85 per
month. As the residential curbside organic recycling program rolled out this year, staff
became aware of the desire for a reduced level of garbage service. As participation in
the new program grew (we are currently on the cusp of 30% participation), a significant
increase in requests to downsize the size of residents’ garbage carts have been
received. Residential curbside organic recycling has had a reducing effect on both the
volume and odor of household garbage. Therefore, since the City requires these
residents to have refuse service, staff believes it is reasonable that a reduced level of
service be offered.
Single-sort and organic recycling rates will be increasing in 2023 to reflect the 3.5% rate
increases per the City’s contract with Republic Services. For that reason as well, staff
would like to offer a reduced level of garbage service at a reduced rate.
Staff proposes that the City of Hopkins offer every-other-week (EOW) garbage service
to those dwelling units who have the smallest level of available service, a 35 gallon cart,
and also participate in the residential organic recycling program. This EOW service
would be provided on the weeks opposite of single-sort recycling collection, in order to
optimize the spacing of carts. Staff proposes a 30% rate reduction for this service,
which equates to a charge of $13.20 per month for those that participate. Staff believes
that the decrease in revenue that could be incurred by those eligible to participate in
EOW service will be offset by the reduction in operational expenses. Dwelling units
who sign up for this service will have the large white sticker on their cart that is labeled
Public Works
with their address replaced with a colored one, this will identify the cart as an EOW
collection to the City’s garbage truck driver.
St. Louis Park has offered EOW garbage service since 2019 with success. Initial
concerns surrounding potential odor from bi-weekly garbage service, in fact, never
came to fruition. This is due to the requirement that the property participate in weekly
organic recycling service. Therefore City of Hopkins proposes the same requirement
and does not foresee this as a problem.
FUTURE ACTION
The added garbage service level and rate will be included in a Council Report and
Resolution presented to Council later this year by the Finance Director. The single-sort
and organic recycling rate increases for 2023 will also be included at that time. After
approval, the new service level and rates will be communicated in City publications and
online.