Audit suggests borough adopt rate evaluation plan for future utility expenses

Despite recent rate hikes, the borough’s user fees are still insufficient to fully cover future big-ticket infrastructure costs, according to the audit of last year’s municipal finances.

At a Nov. 15 assembly work session, Finance Director Mason Villarma and Joy Merriner, of the audit firm BDO’s Anchorage office, suggested that the borough conduct “comprehensive rate revaluation and reserve modeling” annually, to ensure that rates keep up with inflation and generate enough money to maintain essential infrastructure, like vacuum trucks, telephone poles, and the water and sewage plants.

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