Residents speak out against proposed utility rate increases

By LYNETTE SOWELL-STEVENS

Cove Leader-Press

The proposed fee increases for water, sewer, solid waste and other City of Copperas Cove utility services are still on the table, and on Tuesday, two residents spoke in citizens forum about those proposed increases.

The proposed fee schedule includes increases to water, sewer, drainage, and solid waste fees and rates.

Residential water rates for the first 5,000 gallons would increase from $6.06 to $6.91 per 1,000 gallons, while higher usage tiers would also see increases.

Commercial water rates would rise from $7.42 to $8.46 per 1,000 gallons.

Residential drainage fees would increase from $10 to $11 per month, and the minimum sewer rate would increase from $21.86 to $22.52.

Solid waste collection rates would also increase, with the monthly fee for residential trash collection for single-family homes would rise from $27.78 to $30.56.

Daniel Hawbecker was the first to address the council.

“For six consecutive years, we’ve had water rate increases, but that really is not what I’m irritated about as much as the water rate tier system. It’s all based on the impact that we have with the system. My problem is, I did not hear anything at the fee schedule (discussions) about impact fees for development.

“It’s easy for y’all to pass impact fees to me and other citizens, but it seems to be a hard line for y’all with development. They have more impact on this city than the people out there trying to keep the grass alive during the summer months. We have the highest water rates in the area…I just don’t see why y’all cannot look at relieving us citizens from some of this burden of water rates. I know water projects have to be done. They’re always going to have to be done.

“But during last year, when y’all had that five-year plan, our public works director said it was an ambitious plan. Why can we not put impact fees to lower some of the costs of the citizens on water usage? I hope y’all take a look at that and see if y’all can do something to kind of slow down these water rate increases.”

Next up was Ray Payne, who also addressed the proposed increases as well as the annexation agreement that was coming before the council that evening.

He said while he was not anti-growth, he said it was an important thing to be able to fund things like street maintenance. Payne spoke of the $10 per month street maintenance fee that is added to residential water bills, and that businesses have a higher rate depending on what type of business they are.

“Recently, it was brought to my attention that WBW has come back to for item H2 to present to the city to fund the road infrastructure in the Church Mountain subdivision. I am opposed to that particular request. It looked like it was 1.3 million dollars for road infrastructure. If I’m incorrect, I apologize. But that’s money that if we spent on the road infrastructure over there, that we are not spending on the road repairs that you asked us the citizens to finance over the next several years, maybe forever, so that we can have repaired roads here.”

While Payne said he loved for that community to come in, with two different parks, a great green space for new homeowners, there was a question of how many of those new homeowners would actually be paying property taxes.

“If the state is going to give us unfunded mandates where those people that qualify for those exemptions are going to buy those houses, then it’s not any benefit to us to pay for the infrastructure for that place to go in,” he said. He also indicated that there is much inventory of unsold new homes, and even established homes in his neighborhood, and homes for rent in the city that remain unleased.

“I’m not against growth. I think it’s a good idea. I just think right now is not the right time.”

The council did vote to deny approval of the Church Mountain annexation agreement.

However, no decision has been made on the proposed increases, nor have any of the council members brought this up for further discussion.

There are two more regular city council meetings, Tuesday August 4, and Tuesday August 18, starting at 6 p.m., where the public is invited to offer comments in citizens’ forum.

Any proposed fee increases would be approved by the council with the new fee schedule to take effect. Oct. 1, 2026.