NOTICE OF RATE INCREASE AND PUBLIC HEARING
3/18/2026
NOTICE OF RATE INCREASE AND PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 9, 2026, the Town Council (the “Council”) of the Town of Culbertson, Montana (the “Town”), adopted a Resolution of Intention of the Town of Culbertson, Montana to Increase Rates for the Users of the Sewer Systems.
The Town has determined that it is necessary to increase the rates of its municipal sewer system (the “System”) to collect sufficient revenues to pay costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the System and establish appropriate reserves.
The Town currently charges users of the System a monthly rate and charge for sewer service based on an equivalent dwelling unit (“EDU”) methodology. The Council charges users of the System a monthly flat rate of $58.00 per EDU (the “Base Rate Charge”), as follows:
|
Diameter |
Cost per EDU |
Multiplier |
Base Charge |
|
¾” & 1” |
$58.00 |
1.00 |
$ 58.00 |
|
1 ¼” |
$58.00 |
2.78 |
161.24 |
|
1 ½” |
$58.00 |
4.00 |
232.00 |
|
2” |
$58.00 |
7.14 |
414.12 |
|
3” |
$58.00 |
16.00 |
928.00 |
In addition, the Town intends to continue its current Usage Charge of $3.46 per 1,000 gallons of water used per user per month, calculated as shown below.
November through March Meter Readings:
Commercial Minimum Rate: $2.50 plus $3.46/1,000 gallons of water used.
Residential Minimum Rate: $1.50 plus $3.46/1,000 gallons of water used.
April through October Meter Readings:
Commercial Minimum Rate: $2.50 plus $3.46/1,000 gallons of water used.
Residential Minimum Rate $1.50 plus the weighted average of water used during the five winter months of November, December, January, February and March at $3.46/1,000 gallons.
Effective as of the with the July 2026 billing sewer billing, the Town proposes to increase the Base Rate Charge per EDU as follows:
|
Line/Meter Size |
July 2025–June 2026 |
July 2026– June 2027 |
July 2027– June 2028 |
July 2028– June 2029 |
July 2029– June 2030 |
July 2030– June 2031 |
|
¾” & 1” |
$58.00 |
$61.61 |
$65.22 |
$68.83 |
$70.20 |
$71.60 |
|
1 ¼” |
$161.24 |
$171.27 |
$181.31 |
$191.34 |
$195.16 |
$199.06 |
|
1 ½” |
$232.00 |
$243.44 |
$260.88 |
$275.32 |
$280.82 |
$286.43 |
|
2” |
$414.12 |
$439.89 |
$465.67 |
$491.44 |
$501.26 |
$511.28 |
|
3” |
$928.00 |
$985.76 |
$1043.52 |
$1101.28 |
$1123.30 |
$1145.76 |
Commencing with the June 2022 billing, the Town proposes to charge all users connected to the System the sum of the proposed Base Rate Charge plus the Usage Charge.
The Debt Service charge- in the event that water service is shut off at the curb stop relating to a service, the Town charges those inactive connections fee per EDU per month for the availability of sewer service (the “Inactive Sewer Connection Charge”), as shown below by year:
|
July 2026– June 2027 |
|
|
|
|
Diameter |
Cost per EDU |
Multiplier |
Base Charge |
|
¾” & 1” |
$54.07 |
1.00 |
$ 54.07 |
|
1 ¼” |
$54.07 |
2.78 |
150.31 |
|
1 ½” |
$54.07 |
4.00 |
216.28 |
|
2” |
$54.07 |
7.14 |
386.06 |
|
3” |
$54.07 |
16.00 |
865.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 2027– June 2028 |
|
|
|
|
Diameter |
Cost per EDU |
Multiplier |
Base Charge |
|
¾” & 1” |
$57.68 |
1.00 |
$ 57.68 |
|
1 ¼” |
$57.68 |
2.78 |
160.35 |
|
1 ½” |
$57.68 |
4.00 |
230.72 |
|
2” |
$57.68 |
7.14 |
411.84 |
|
3” |
$57.68 |
16.00 |
922.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 2028– 2055 |
|
|
|
|
Diameter |
Cost per EDU |
Multiplier |
Base Charge |
|
¾” & 1” |
$61.29 |
1.00 |
$ 61.29 |
|
1 ¼” |
$61.29 |
2.78 |
170.39 |
|
1 ½” |
$61.29 |
4.00 |
245.16 |
|
2” |
$61.29 |
7.14 |
437.61 |
|
3” |
$61.29 |
16.00 |
980.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
A public hearing on the rate increases for the System will be held on April 13, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m., in the Townhall located at 210 Broadway Avenue in Culbertson, Montana.
Further information about the proposed rate increase may be obtained by contacting Terri Merrill, Town Clerk/Treasurer, at Townhall, 210 Broadway Avenue, Culbertson, MT or by telephone at (406) 787-5271.
Done by Order of the Council of the Town of Culbertson, Montana this 9th day of March 2026.
/s/ Terri Merrill
Town Clerk/Treasurer