Page 229 - City of Westlake FY20 Budget

Section 4 Enterprise Funds
Utility Fund Overview

The Utility Fund is responsible for water, wastewater, and ductbank services. All activities related to the
provision of these services are accounted for in the fund, including administration, operations, maintenance,
financing and related debt service, billing, and collection.

Capital and operating costs associated with Town utility services are financed primarily through user charges.
The Town continues to use advanced automated technologies to control storage facility inflows and minimize
annual peak payment charges from the City of Fort Worth.

The Utility Fund budget is designed to fully recover all system costs as well as provide for capital improvements
and maintenance of Westlake’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Water and wastewater rates are based on a rate study conducted in 2019 and approved by the Town
Council at the December 2019 Town Council meeting.
• Staff is committed to maintaining an up to date utility rate analysis to maintain the integrity of the fund. To
that end town staff will update the rate study annually which will help guide future rate policy.

Revenues and Other Sources
• Total revenues and other sources are budgeted to be $5,650,028
• This represents a 19% decrease of $1,327,273 from prior year estimated revenues.
o Charges for Service increased $751,737 based on anticipated residential increase for FY19/20.
o Utility permits fees increased $26,600 due to one-time planning and development building permit
fees and revenues.
o Investment earnings are budgeted to remain flat at $55,300
o Miscellaneous income decreased $5,610
o Other Sources decreased $2,100,000 due to one-time bond proceeds in the prior year from the
Texas Water Development Board to be used for the Fort Worth Waterline project.

Utility Fund revenue is primarily comprised of fees for water and wastewater services. The fund also receives a
small portion of its revenue through tap fees and interest income, and currently serves as a mechanism for
collecting and distributing debt service and impact fees.

• Water Revenue $3,811,177:
The Utility Fund is the recipient of all revenue generated from water sales in the Town. As Westlake’s
customer base continues to expand, additional demands will be placed on the utility system, requiring
incremental expansion and maintenance of infrastructure.

• Wastewater Revenue $1,380,220:
Wastewater revenue is the second largest component of the Utility Fund. Revenue is expected to grow
proportionate to future non-irrigation water demands.

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