COLUMBIA — Large-scale renovations and additions to the city's water system will be supported by the purchase of $38.9 million in bonds if city voters approve Proposition 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Financing with municipal bonds isn't required for the completion of the project, but many agree that it would put less burden on utility rates.
Connie Kacprowicz, a spokesperson for Columbia Water and Light, said purchasing a bond is much like taking out a loan on a house.
"You take out a loan and pay for a house steadily over time instead of all at once when you need it," Kacprowicz said. "Then you can still use the house without spending all your money at one time."
The economic woes of the past month are a concern, however, for the purchase of bonds.
"One issue that comes up among voters is if the market will be receptive to the purchase of this bond," said Kee Groshong, co-chair of a mayoral committee supporting the issue. He said concerns over credit and availability are legitimate but the bond itself is a safe investment even in that type of market.
The utility's rates and fiscal planning manager Jim Windsor also said the bonds are prudent. "We'll work with financial advisers to determine the best time to sell them," Windsor said. "Municipal bonds are still very secure, and the city has a very high rating."
He said the bonds would be sold around the end of 2009 to finance the projects in Proposition 1.
To support the initial purchase of the bonds, rates for utility customers would rise steadily over the next six years.
The expenses would be paid by residential and commercial customers in the form of rate increases. Over six years, there would be two annual increases of 1.5 percent on the monthly rate and four more of 5 percent, accounting for a total rate increase of 23 percent.
The average residential customer now pays $20.79 per month. The increases would result in a monthly rate of about $26.08 for the average customer at the end of the six-year renovation.
"Commercial rates would rise according to similar percentages," Windsor said. "These estimates are based on a cost of service study that shows how much we need to charge to provide that service."
Without the bond, utility rates could increase by about 70 percent for four years and decrease by about 25 percent for the last two, according to Water and Light's estimates. These numbers arise from the cost of completing the project in the same six years.
"That would be the worst-case scenario," Windsor said. "If the bill didn't pass, we would need to re-evaluate and determine what projects are more important than others and what needs to be done on the same timeline.
"Ultimately, though, these are projects we need to do," he said. "Without the bond, they might have to be pushed back, but rates would still rise much more dramatically than they would if the bond was approved."
The bonds would allow customers to pay smaller increases and avoid that initially large rate.
The last renovation project was approved by voters in 2003 and resulted in the purchase of $28.3 million in bonds, mainly for water treatment purposes. The construction of a new pump station was completed recently but is not yet in operation. All other projects from 2003 have been completed and are functional.
"So far, the feedback from voters has been positive," Groshong said. His committee will meet with community groups over the next few weeks to support the purchase of the bonds.