NEWMAN LAKE, Wash. – A meeting at the Moab Irrigation Water District 20 offices is set to discuss a proposed water rate increase for the Newman Lake area. The board of directors is considering a 45% rate hike, a reduction from the 76% increase previously reported.
The board expressed concerns about the impact of a lower rate on their budget. “The recommended increase was much higher than what we ultimately did for 2025. We settled on a 45% increase, which is still high in our opinion. It’s feasible that, yes, there could be another large increase if enough is not done to cut expenses,” said a board member.
Jerry Neff, chairman of the board, stated that the district has several essential projects planned and the new rate would not fully fund them. The district has been undercharging, and a significant increase is needed to address budget issues.
In 2005, rate increases were recommended to be between 2% or CPI per year, but these were not implemented until 2021 and 2022. In 2023, a 25% rate increase was enacted to compensate for the lack of funds.
Community members have expressed frustration over the increase, citing insufficient notice. The system serves about 730 customers, many of whom are farmers using significant amounts of water.
The board attributes the need for the increase to several factors, including delinquency of payments over the last decade, inflation, and new state regulations.
