COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) is looking to up its budget by $87 million next year, and that would mean higher utility costs for you.
CSU is proposing a $1.1 billion budget for 2012.
It would include several capital projects, including The Southern Delivery System.
The proposed budget increase is 8.6 percent, which would be reflected in water, natural gas and electricity rates.
Currently the utilities board is analyzing the proposal, and officials with CSU said the increase is necessary to help move the four-service utility forward.
They said if the budget is approved, more than half of the money would be used for fuel costs and capital projects.
"When we say capital projects we are talking about things like the Southern Delivery System, and new technology at our Drake Power Plant to meet incoming regulations at the federal and state level," Steve Berry with CSU said.
So what does that mean for you?
Berry said the average residential customer would see a 4.3 percent increase on their utility bill.
"It is about an $8 increase on average, but again that is for the average residential customer."
As for who will be making the final decision, city council is scheduled to talk about the proposal later this month and are encouraging residents to voice their concerns.
"I know I have made changes every year in the city budget based on something I have heard from public comment," City Council President Scott Hente said.
Hente said council understands times are tough right now, but he said his team has to look at the whole picture.
"The east coast has a big snowstorm, and there are still people without power a week later, and you do not see that happening in Colorado Springs because we put the investment in our infrastructure," he said.
City council members will vote on the proposal Nov. 22 at their regular meeting.
Public comment will also take place that day.
For a more in-depth breakdown of the budget proposal click here.
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