Donala Water and Sanitation District, Dec. 12 – Rate increases approved for 2023

• Rates to increase 4.6% in total
• Two mill levies set
• Election set for May 2
• 2023 budget adopted and funds appropriated

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its December meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board increased some rates, leaving the majority unchanged. The board also set mill levies as they are required to do annually. A resolution calling for a district election and appointing a Designated Election Official was approved. Finally, the board adopted a budget and appropriated the necessary funds.

Rates to increase 4.6% in total

District Manager Jeff Hodge told the board that the district’s costs have increased, citing an increase of 18.5% in the cost of electricity as an example. Christina Hawker, the DWSD Accounts Payable specialist, said overall rates increased 4.6%.

Resolution 2022-5 enumerated which rates will increase in 2023 and which will remain unchanged, including:

• Residential water and sewer tap fees will remain unchanged at $8,500.
• Commercial water tap fees for ¾-inch and 1-inch taps will increase to $9,350.
• Commercial sewer tap fees will remain unchanged at $9,350 for the first 20 fixture units, as defined by the American Water Works Association.
• The Water Investment Fee, which covers renewable water costs for new development, will remain unchanged at $4,000 per residence.
• The Water Service Rate will increase to $30.66 per month.
• The Water Usage Rate for all six tiers of consumption will increase 0.5%.
• The Sewer Service Rate will increase to $40.54 per month through June 30, 2023. In July the billing methodology will change to a consumption-based charge.

The board voted unanimously to pass the resolution.

A complete list of rates and fees can be found on the district’s website here: https://www.donalawater.org. Click the “District Information” menu item to see rates and fees.

Two mill levies set

Each year, the DWSD board must set two mill levies, one for the bulk of the DWSD service area (Area A) and one for the Chapparal Hills neighborhood (Area B). Resolution 2022-9 set a mill levy of 21.296 mills for Area A. Resolution 2022-10 set a mill levy of 10.648 mills for Area B. Chapparal Hills requires its own mill levy because it receives only water service from DWSD. The board voted unanimously in favor of both resolutions and authorized letters to the El Paso County Assessor’s Office and the Division of Local Government notifying them of the mill levies.

Election set for May 2

The terms of Directors William George, Kevin Deardorff and Kenneth Judd will expire on May 2, 2023, and Resolution 2022-5 sets an election to fill those three seats. The directors elected will serve four-year terms.

The DWSD office building at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs, will serve as the polling place, and voters may cast their votes between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on May 2.

The resolution also names Hawker as the Designated Election Official. Candidates must file a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form to run for one of the three seats. The forms are available at the DWSD office building on Holbein Drive.

If there are three or fewer candidates for the open seats, the election will be cancelled, and the candidates will be seated.

The board voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 2022-5.

2023 budget adopted and funds appropriated

Resolution 2022-6 adopts the 2023 budget presented at the Oct. 13 board meeting and reviewed at a Nov. 17 workshop, and Resolution 2022-7 appropriates the required funds. The board voted unanimously in favor of both resolutions.

The discussion of the 2023 budget at the Oct. 13 board meeting can be found in the November issue of OCN here: https://ocn.me/v22n11.htm#dwsd.

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The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Donala Water and Sanitation District articles

• Donala Water and Sanitation District, July 17 – Board tours treatment facility, adjusts sewer bills (8/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, June 12 – Positive audit report; inconsistent waste treatment numbers (7/3/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, May 5 – Directors sworn in; district offices temporarily closed (6/7/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, April 17 – Workshop covers finances, water supply (5/3/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Mar. 27 – New water and sewer rates take effect (4/5/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 20 – Voters remove term limits (3/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 16 – Board passes housekeeping resolution (2/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 21 – State signs off on radium remediation (1/4/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 21 – Board hears rate and groundwater supply studies (12/5/2024)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 10 – Board receives preliminary 2025 budget, considers rate increase (11/2/2024)