Frequently Asked Questions

As our city's utility system ages, more and more repairs and replacements are required. Westminster experiences some of the same increases in costs that homeowners do. Maintaining aging systems is expensive, though Westminster is able to do it and keep water and sewer rates at about average for the region.

The City's entire water supply infrastructure system (from water storage to treatment plants, and from pumps to pipes) must be ready to provide clean, safe, drinking water at any moment of any day. This fixed monthly charge pays for that "readiness to serve" ability for the utility, ensuring that water reliably comes out of that tap whenever you need it.

This fee covers the entire range of services for a stormwater utility: maintenance, engineering and construction, environmental compliance, flood control, facility inspections, cleaning up and issuing fines for illegal dumping, and overseeing construction sites. This fee also pays for the city's free hazardous household waste pick-up program and for the street sweeping program.

This fee pays for a portion of the city’s concrete and street light costs.

In order to ensure that Westminster continues to have high-quality streets, approximately $10 million is needed annually to maintain and preserve the current condition of the city's roadways. On average, Westminster budgets approximately $4.9 million per year on roadway maintenance and rehabilitation. This data-driven assessment was developed by the City's pavement management system which assesses and monitors 1,135 lane miles of Westminster roadways.

As a part of the 2022 fiscal year budget engagement process, Westminster City Council will be considering a change to the monthly fee for roadway improvements to address this funding gap and would like feedback from potentially impacted property owners. Under the current proposed 2022 fiscal year budget, properties will be charged a $6 monthly Roadway Improvement Fee for each unit or dwelling beginning January 1, 2022. Currently, property owners are charged $6 per month based on the number of water meters serving the property.

This proposed update to the fee structure will ensure a more equitable source of funding for critical roadway improvement projects and brings your property into alignment with how single family and townhomes are charged.

While this fee will appear on your property's water bill, every dollar will be used to fund roadway maintenance and improvement projects such as repaving roads, updating streetlights, and other essential infrastructure work. Water infrastructure maintenance will continue to be funded by your property's water consumption fees.