Lester Harris

The meeting agenda includes a Work Session to discuss the FY 2025 Audit Results Presentation by Deloitte & Touche, followed by a report from the Audit Committee and Staff. The Regular Session features opening remarks from the President and an Executive Director's Status Report covering system updates, regulatory matters, and project progress. Key items for individual consideration involve contract amendments and change orders related to the Harpool RWTP Phase 2 Expansion Project and the Lake Ralph Hall Project, including final pricing and accommodation for future capacity increases. The agenda also includes an Executive Session to discuss property acquisition, water rights, security matters, legal reviews, and potential litigation concerning construction contracts and energy procurement. Following the Executive Session, action items cover property matters, construction change orders for Lake Ralph Hall, and future energy procurement contracts.

The FY 2023 budget includes discussion around operating and capital budgets, key objectives of the plan such as the addition of six new positions, funding for 136 total authorized positions, adequate funding for the District's reserves, attraction and retention of a high-quality workforce, projection of a 3% increase for the District's healthcare expense and repairing and replacing aging infrastructure, as needed.

The Upper Trinity Regional Water District's (UTRWD) budget for FY 2021-2022 includes operating budgets totaling $68.92 million, a 3.2% increase from the previous year, and capital improvements budgeted at $241.16 million, a 37.2% increase. Key discussion points involve rate adjustments for various services, including a 3.75% increase for Regional Treated Water Service. The budget also covers the addition of five new positions, a 4% allowance for employee compensation increases, and a projected 10% rise in healthcare costs. Funding is allocated for water conservation, future water resources, and watershed protection programs. The budget reflects contributions to long-term reserves for facility replacement and non-bond reserves. Debt service includes considerations for commercial paper interest rates and long-term debt conversion. Capital projects include the Southwest Pump Station, Lake Ralph Hall, and expansions and improvements to treatment plants and pipelines.

The Upper Trinity Regional Water District's FY 2023-2024 budget includes operating and capital budgets. The adopted operating budgets for the District's utility systems total $88.94 million, a 12.98% increase compared to last year. The capital improvements budget is recommended to be $375.68 million, a 35.91% increase from last year, mainly due to the Lake Ralph Hall project. Rate adjustments are proposed for Regional Treated Water Service (6.10%), Northeast and Lakeview Regional Water Reclamation Systems (3.50% each), and Household Hazardous Waste (30.69%). The budget includes a 2% market rate adjustment for District salaries, an increased merit raise range, and funding for five additional positions. It also covers costs for raw water, water conservation, future water resources, and watershed protection programs. Key capital projects include the Southwest Pump Station, Lake Ralph Hall project, Taylor Regional Water Treatment Plant Expansion, and Harpool RWTP Phased Treatment Expansion.