Clark County, Nev., Sewer Bills Reduced 4%

LOS ANGELES — Clark County, Nev. commissioners approved a decrease in sewer bills this week that will result in a 4% reduction in sewer bills for the 9,094 commercial and 231,758 residential customers served by the Clark County Water Reclamation District.

The reduction, which takes effect July 1, came as a result of the commission's review of the district's financial plan and the $700 million capital plan, according to a news release.

The commissioners were acting Monday in their capacity as the Board of Trustees for the water district when they took the vote. Rates will drop from $230.30 per house to $221.09 per house.

"This rate reduction is the result of maintaining needed investments in the infrastructure while still producing a savings for the residential and commercial ratepayers," said Commissioner Larry Brown, chairman of the district's Board of Trustees.

District staff worked with the financial advisory firm of Hobbs Ong and Associates to review rate scenarios and the effects on the operating and capital budgets, according to the release. The analysis found that changes could be made with the financial reserves and that a 4% reduction to the annual service charges, effective July 1, should be sustainable for the next five years, while maintaining the projected capital spending of more than $700 million.

Commercial customers in Indian Springs, which the district began serving after it took over the failing system from a private company, will also see a decrease. Their inclusion impacts about 24 commercial customers.

The Water Reclamation District is the wastewater agency serving unincorporated Clark County. In addition to the unincorporated areas within the Las Vegas Valley, the district provides wastewater collection and treatment in the communities of Blue Diamond, Indian Springs, Laughlin, Moapa Valley and Searchlight. With seven treatment facilities, the district collects and reclaims more than 100 million gallons of wastewater each day.

The district had $456 million of outstanding general obligation bonds at the end of June 2012, according to its financial statements.

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Nevada
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