NEW BOSTON, Texas - Riverbend Water Resources District's Board of Directors adopted the 2019-20 wet utilities and administrative member fund budget during their regular meeting Wednesday.
The wet utilities, or water, budget shows increases of both revenue and expenses. Revenue is projected to be $3,541,962, up from last year's $3,479,249 and total expenses are projected to be $4,061,213, up from $3,721,088 last year.
The administrative budget includes revenue of $207,000 and expenses of $724,790. It also includes $100,000 for special projects. In the past two years, Riverbend has spent $600,000 on a water availability model to determine the amount of water in Wright Patman Lake, $150,000 on a volumetric and sedimentation study on the lake and $60,000 for a feasibility study for the city of Hooks.
Data from the lake studies is included in the Regional Water Master Plan, which includes a new water intake on the lake, a new raw water line and a new water treatment plant at TexAmericas Center. The water district is in the process of applying for bonds from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to pay for the infrastructure.
The bonds would be repaid through a regional water infrastructure fee of an additional $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water. Customers will pay that price for three years and the rate then goes up to $2.50 per 1,000 gallons in the fourth year. Riverbend's member entities have all passed resolutions in support of the increase.
The water district provides water and wastewater services to the Red River Army Depot and TexAmericas Center and represents the cities of Annona, Atlanta, Avery, DeKalb, Hooks, Leary, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, Texarkana, Texas and Wake Village.
The board also approved amendments to the 2018-19 budgets to reflect revenue increases from member cities, utility and chemical costs and reductions in other areas, including drying bed rehabilitation.
In other business, the board elected officers for 2019-20. They include: Sonja Hubbard, president; Tina Veal-Gooch, vice-president; Van Alexander, treasurer; Marshall Wood, secretary; and Fred Milton, past president. Officer positions are rotated on an annual basis.
The next meeting is set for noon Oct. 23 at the Riverbend Offices, 228A Texas Ave., New Boston, Texas.