City water utilities are a problem

By JOEL WRIGHT

Staff writer

Because the Hillsboro water department’s end-of-year balance came up $280,000 less than planned, city council members convened Tuesday to figure out what to do next.

“This is not fun, I know that,” administrator Larry Paine said.

Paine suggested the council increase water rates to provide the city a cushion. The utility rate increase is designed to cover five years, so it all will not need to be paid at once.

Council members debated different ideas without coming to a clear-cut solution, but Paine did ask members to brainstorm what they would do in his position.

In other business:

• Members voted to pass the 2013 annual budget amendment, adjusting the library, industrial, airport, canine, and CDBG funds.
• Council members held a public hearing to discuss proposed changes to the annual budget, but no members from the public attended.