Skip to main content

2024 City Budget, Utility Rates, Wastewater Line Replacement, 5th South Sidewalk

2024 City Budget

After much discussion, analysis, and the public hearing, the city council passed the 2024 budget. 

The mayor, city staff, and the council take seriously their responsibility to use wisely the money the city receives from residents and other sources. 

Here is a summary of the budget.

And speaking of money, here is news that always pinches a little: the utility rate increases for the year.

Utility Rate Adjustments

The utility rates haven't been keeping pace with actual costs and inflation for a number of years, and, as I'll mention in the next section below, the rates haven't been building up enough reserve for future maintenance or projects.

It's tempting to want to be able to tell residents "no utility rate increases again this year!" But, if the rates don't keep up, then at some point in the future the city will get hit with a need for a big rate increase or major bond or similar funding process to pay for needed maintenance. It's a balance to keep the rates as low as possible, but sufficient for current and upcoming needs.

Here are the new rates beginning Oct. 1st, 2023.


And on a related note:

Wastewater Line Replacement

As I've mentioned in other posts over the last year or so, the wastewater line from Sugar to Moody Hwy and from Moody into Rexburg have to be replaced. Sugar's wastewater is processed in Rexburg, and they are moving forward with a much needed upgrade project.

The current lines are concrete and 40+ years old and in bad shape. The new lines won't be concrete and will have a much longer expected life cycle.

The line from Moody to Rexburg is in the most need of immediate work. It would be great if the city had enough money set aside to simply pay for this project. Maintenance and repair projects such as these are reasons for the city to reasonably keep up with costs as we consider utility rates each year. 

The city is still discussing probable and possible funding options. The most likely scenario will be a combination of direct funding from the city's utility reserves, a small grant, and a very low interest loan that the city will pay off over the course of a number of years. I'll keep you updated as this goes forward.

5th South Sidewalk

Work on the sidewalk that will run along the north side of 5th South is scheduled to begin the last week of September. It will be a great safe east-west route.

Sugar City is a wonderful place to live! I appreciate talking with other residents about the past, the present, and the future of this great city. If you have questions or concerns, please come to city council meetings and share your thoughts with us during public comment time. Or, of course, you can stop by or call the city or contact me or any other member of the city council or the mayor or city staff. Thanks!


Popular posts from this blog

Railroad Ave Project; Fiber Project; Public Notification; Sugar Salem Moody Cemetery; Sugar Days

  Railroad Ave Project Back in 2018, the city approved a project to improve the safety and usability of Railroad Ave as it comes into town from the south. The engineering was completed, and the project was ready to go. For various reasons, there was no funding at the time, so the project has been on hold since then. Recently the city was awarded a grant that will cover the entire cost of the project--something that rarely happens. The map above shows the plans. The redesign will allow for a much better and safer flow of traffic in and out of Sugar City, especially for the truck traffic from Sun-Glo and Dickinson Foods. The traffic in the area will be rerouted as necessary during the project, with as little inconvenience as possible. Please be on the look out for notices and signs about the project, as it should be starting soon. Fiber Project The project to install fiber in the older areas of the city as part of the Fybercom & Madison County & Sugar City agreement is underw...
Read more

City Impact Area: County Decision

  Impact Area A city is required to have an impact area surrounding the city's boundaries within the unincorporated county. The impact area allows the county, city, and property owners to plan for possible or probable land development.  Residents of the impact area are not in the city limits, but they can have the benefit of having a proportional number of impact area residents serving on the city's planning and zoning commission, giving them a voice in any future development. Any landowner who wishes to develop their property within the impact area deals with the county as usual; however, as we strive to consolidate development--saving, as we can, more farm and other ag and open land--the land owner is required to follow the basic development ordinances laid out in the city code with the intent that the land being developed in the impact area will eventually become part of the city (annexation). One of the main issues with county land development is water protection and water...
Read more

2025 Budget; Utility Fees; Sugar City's First Stoplight?; Construction Updates

  2025 Budget Last council meeting, the city council passed the 2025 budget. This is a summary of the budget. If you'd like to see more details, please stop by city hall and ask to see it. We also heard from the city auditors regarding our finances from the past year, and we got a good report. You can also see a copy of that report at city hall if you wish.  The city runs on public funding, and I think the current budget reflects this understanding--that we have to be wise in what we budget for and how we plan for current and future city needs. Cities have to be careful not to get into the habit of thinking "We need more money," and, instead, be in the habit of thinking "We can make this work." Utility Fees Here are the new fees for water, sewer, and garbage. "Last Year" = 2024 budget; "This Year" = 2025 budget (beginning Oct 1, 2024) Sugar City's First Stoplight? Councilmember Carter Stanford pointed out that the new stoplight on the nor...
Read more