Budget and Billing

Your bill is calculated in the following manner:

The board determines a budget for the fiscal year that runs from December 1 through November 30. For the fiscal year 2021 to 2022 the board estimates the cost of operating the Syringa system to be $83,890. NOTE: The Reserve account also holds money for repairs and upgrades and money to help capitalize any future loans. As of January 2021, there is $344,402 in the Reserve account. Money not spent on operations this fiscal year is rolled over to the capital reserve.


	SYRINGA HEIGHTS WATER DISTRICT December 1 2021 – November 31, 2022 BUDGET

	INCOME
	Income from the base fees paid by 221 users.	$87,516
	Meter fee charge from City of Sandpoint (paid by customers)	$4,694
	Late Fees from customers	$3,000

	New User Fees (anticipated)	$6,200

	TOTAL INCOME	$96,891
	(Monthly base fee paid by 221 Users. Based on just operational expense, excluding waters sales which in our case is irrelevant	$33

	EXPENSES
	Audit (general)	$0
	Public Meetings (presentation of Plan, etc.)	$0
	Accounting, Billing	$7,500
	Administrative Expense	$2,000
	CCR Prep	$200
	Certified Operator Cost	$3,000
	Computer and web and Internet Expenses	$500
	Directors Fees	$7,500
	Dues and Fees	$1,500
	Engineering Services (Miscellaneous)	$25,000
	Install new service (charge)	$400
	Insurance and Bonding	$2,500
	Legal Fees	$5,000
	Meetings	$1,000
	Meter Reading (CO) + Badger	$2,400
	Meter Reading, Trimble	$1,000
	Mileage	$1,500
	Office supplies	$300
	Post Office Box Rent	$140
	Postage	$2,000
	Repairs and Maintenance	$5,000
	Site Locates	$4,000
	Plumbing Supplies reserve	$5,000
	Software updates (Quick Books)	$750
	Software updates (Badger System)	$750
	Telephone Expense	$1,000
	Utilities (power)	$3,000
	Water testing	$950

	BASIC OPERATIONAL EXPENSES	$83,890

First, we have to be sure that the operations are paid for. To do that, we divide the number of Syringa water users (221 billings, as of January 2022) into the budget or the “Total Expenses”. That becomes our base payment. Everyone pays the base no matter how few or how many gallons he or she uses. The “base fee” as you can read on your green billing card has been $33.00 per month, increasing to $34 this year.

To that amount is added the amount of water you use per thousand gallons multiplied by the rate at which the City of Sandpoint sells Syringa Water District per thousand. For example, currently Syringa based on Sandpoint costs are:

$3.77 for the first 3000 gallons
$4.10 for 3000 to 15,000 gallons
$6.04 for 15,000 to 40,000 gallons
$7.69 for over 40,000 gallons

For example, one board member used a few months ago exactly 4665 gallons. He pays $3.77 x the first three 1000 gallons or $11.31. He then is charged for 1665 gallons at the next rate level of $4.10 or $4.10 x 1.665 thousand gallons or $6.82. His total cost of water usage for December is $18.13.

To that is added a City of Sandpoint charge of $1.81 for their Meter. Since the City of Sandpoint considers our water district as one user, it charges us, like it does each of its city users, a meter fee–in this case a three inch meter–of about about $350 a month which all us users have to share the cost. So, our board member paid for the month of December:

Base fee: $34.00
Water use costs: $18.13
City meter charge: $1.81
Total monthly bill: $53.94