[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6080279,"mediaKeyId","2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f","parentId",2948576,"title","Perkins approves five-year capital plan and 10% utility rate increase; rescinds insurance waiver stipend","audioSeconds",5378,"startMs",2714000,"endMs",8092000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f&start=2714&end=8092","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f/thumbnail_2714000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6080279/Perkins/Payne-County/Oklahoma/Perkins-approves-five-year-capital-plan-and-10-utility-rate-increase-rescinds-insurance-waiver-stipend","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080279-737f9a5278dcc39fa38021341dfb5dcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073362&Signature=Ip~r5bD779M41Q4o-STIy6NtSJ9GiFnfNXi98RVMYQtq9UloBneUx6f9JzVQEwupWPFoOPSeNvWoibjEBzZWDrvy4XFynOaj5pLBKrthMZPQfSfBodwy05VpocFthkkj2iaXH~l8nFiILJIGJVRB5QL66OVg7bvN16eG-FlNEGg~vpYnwBkIAysHHgY3ThoQAZBq1AvxVkP9caWTc4tX1TZriafMedWBDH74QTbJnTa9MyHUGQYlXNfJmIDioIwrEanUqozvw4jPefXk8vTPVbBp7XL2iFygHJLoxMN-DEjScKjBZaKP3QvFX1SCSi9qRs5pR0-8tAHYECfav20zHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Perkins, Oklahoma","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Perkins commissioners on April 8 approved the city’s five-year capital improvement plan for fiscal 2026, reviewed the operating budget for fiscal 2025–26, approved a 10% increase in water and sewer rates and a plan to phase commercial sewer per-gallon charges to equal residential rates over three years, and voted to rescind the employee medical insurance waiver stipend effective May 1, 2025.

Why it matters: staff described a sustained decline in sales-tax revenue and rising operating costs — including large health-insurance increases and higher utility and chemical costs at water/sewer facilities — that create a budget shortfall. The combination of the 10% rate increase and the proposed utility changes was presented as the measure that balances the utility fund in the staff’s model.

Capital improvement plan and project highlights
City staff presented a living five-year CIP that lists planned purchases and projects across departments. Items discussed included a backhoe financed over five years, the sewer jetter (the subject of separate action), a generator for a lift station, root-control programs, required synthetic-organic-chemical testing (staff cited roughly $12,000 for that testing), vehicle purchases and building repairs. Staff gave a total-program figure in the packet and said the list will evolve as revenues and grants change.

Operating-budget context and insurance changes
City Manager Bob and staff told commissioners sales tax revenues have trended downward and operating costs have risen; staff proposed no across-the-board employee raises in the presented budget. Health-insurance premiums rose sharply this year, and staff said employees agreed to accept a portion of the increase: \"we're asking the employees, and they have agreed to take on, essentially, the 23% raise for health insurance so we can keep what we have,\" the city manager said on the record.

Commissioners voted to rescind the city’s employee medical-insurance waiver stipend (a $175 monthly payment to employees who show proof of alternate coverage) effective May 1, 2025. Staff said the city’s insurance broker recommended ending the stipend because it creates an appearance of encouraging employees to forgo employer coverage.

Utility-rate change
Staff presented rate tables showing customer counts by usage tier and the modeled effect of several percentage increases. The staff recommendation and the motion the commission approved increase water and sewer rates by 10% across the board and add a policy to move commercial sewer per-gallon charges to parity with residential rates over three years. Staff provided an illustrative example: a household using roughly 5,200 gallons would see an increase of about $9.79 on water/sewer and roughly $0.22 on the trash side under the 10% model. Staff said implementation would likely be effective July 1, 2025, to align with billing cycles.

Commissioners and staff discussed cut options and the alternative of using savings to fill the gap; staff said using reserves at the level required to avoid the increase would consume a substantial portion of the city’s savings and could require deeper cuts in service or personnel later.

Votes and next steps
The five-year CIP was approved. The commission did not finalize the overall operating budget that night (staff said further review or adoption could occur at the next meeting), but commissioners approved the utility-rate motion, the rescinding of the insurance stipend, and directed staff to bring a resolution reflecting the rate changes back to the next meeting for the formal ordinance/resolution vote and effective dates.

The discussion emphasized that shopping local and attracting business sales tax remain central to the city’s revenue outlook; staff said they will continue pursuing grant funding and other revenue options to reduce pressure on utility ratepayers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Perkins (Oklahoma) City Commission, PPWA, and PIDA Meetings 2025-04-10","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved the city’s five-year capital improvement plan for fiscal 2026, reviewed the operating budget, approved a 10% increase to water and sewer rates (and a three-year plan to equalize commercial sewer per-gallon charges), and voted to rescind the employee medical insurance waiver stipend effective May 1, 2025.","taxTitle","Perkins, Payne County, Oklahoma","taxId",74319,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6080283,"Perkins awards $2.307 million water tower contract in partnership with Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma",268,2449000,2717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f&start=2449&end=2717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f/thumbnail_2449000.jpg","/articles/6080283/Perkins/Payne-County/Oklahoma/Perkins-awards-2307-million-water-tower-contract-in-partnership-with-Iowa-Tribe-of-Oklahoma","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080283-58500f6a271e65d3fd6774e2419dbae0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073362&Signature=HiAZ0K0IvLgIZ-2fzGZavpy0jcGyG8mtb6ib1JGi0xTwDW8-8T90Z1nsBYe2usdDK8Ljfw8x~4oV~tv-EEch-pNOB5fd3I1RKysNrmbcX1ygIL1neU2W42thF2ct0AX~IILbBqXvgsc0hg-z9gBCCjupTwQa3Q4nrWJrvGWw~vFkuNRpcp3gCPc96xbdfYMANQ3RUuU-kHLXgzvc-Ekl2CIyeH~KFcSMyiLCpuiP7WgITkbrUQH7-nDYtkFACJaXxuzZHBihQGR9-q2iPcwLRQW1i83PrBtgnXigkYdCKzTYXcyTKNTpVR3IxAb4R0GX6ajrw3WH88OM3WHTKI3fIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Perkins on April 8 awarded the base contract for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (ITO) water tower to Maguire Iron Incorporated for the low bid of $2,307,000. Commissioners authorized the city manager to execute contracts and related documents; funding for the tower comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds administered through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and matching dollars from the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the city.

Why it matters: the tower is a major capital project intended to improve water storage and distribution for parts of Perkins. City staff said the tower itself can be built with the awarded funds; connecting water-line work that would tie the new tower into another pressure zone came in significantly higher than anticipated and was not included in the award.

City staff and the city manager explained that bids were received for the tower and for several alternates. The low base bid from Maguire Iron covers the tower structure; staff did not recommend awarding the higher-cost alternate for water-line construction at this time because the water-line bids were about $750,000 — more than anticipated and beyond available funding within the ARP program.

The commission also approved multiple small perpetual utility easements from private trusts needed for future tie-ins. Staff said the easements — described in the agenda as roughly 223 square feet and 570 square feet at two separate locations near Highway 33 and Casey’s — will allow future water-line connections that could help unify pressure zones and supply the new tower from multiple sources.

City Manager Bob (on the record as city manager) framed the collaboration with the tribe as essential: \"If it wasn't for the Iowa Tribe, we would not be building a water tower, and we would not be building a new lift station,\" he said during the meeting, calling the project a partnership. Staff said they will continue seeking grant opportunities and further discussions with the tribe to fund any additional water-line work.

Commissioners voted unanimously to award the contract and to approve the related easements. The water-line alternates were not awarded; staff will return if additional funding is secured.","The city awarded a $2,307,000 contract to Maguire Iron Inc. to build the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma water tower using ARP funds and tribal matching funds; commissioners approved easements needed to connect the tower to existing infrastructure but deferred higher-cost water-line work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6080288,"Perkins approves $77,000 financing and bond counsel to buy sewer jetter",717,902000,1619000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f&start=902&end=1619","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948576-fd601283a52cfa20ae9972a265b38e4f/thumbnail_902000.jpg","/articles/6080288/Perkins/Payne-County/Oklahoma/Perkins-approves-77000-financing-and-bond-counsel-to-buy-sewer-jetter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080288-a307a91b089c1ffbe17fbd8b1bd6bf68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771073362&Signature=moV4a-duphOrfSmrNEfxGI5k9GE3sRnD~AkU1mDpz~BRIPHSNLxffOdjuAcq~0vuziLG43p6Zkh1pjBnX27aPR6mQpoce-~P5LuaCQUJPlpERnxoCOvIFwlqlye8rPGMbomWw5UvfDY3zdhjJJyvGntEME2sgppKXWYXxSM8DipFDwSNtgq1~~9ZJnfzmMR6WBKJIy2VKGr~61YiJhEPwr-i3oVGeAnf~~i3XehZe7pwrk3MYhxbs-A5~w~hXiClPFpCtjbYiq-UHtGZxzsQ7Rhc12QcMmU-bn9CJa054hVLI4Bf~DlrlLpeT7pVg1yHuS-0B-Y7e6yqTSWgCle6MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkins commissioners and the Perkins Public Works Authority on April 8 approved parallel resolutions authorizing the issuance of indebtedness to buy a trailer-mounted sewer jetter and approved legal and bond-counsel arrangements needed to close the loan.

The commission approved Resolution 4-2025 authorizing the city to incur indebtedness related to equipment financing, and the Perkins Public Works Authority approved Resolution 5-2025 to issue a revenue note not to exceed $77,000. The commission and the authority later approved an engagement letter and purchase order to Floyd & Driver PLLC for bond-counsel and closing services.

Why it matters: the jetter replaces an aging unit that staff said is ‘‘past end of life’’ and reduces repeated rental costs. The authority will borrow directly from a bank to buy the machine; direct placement requires waivers of competitive sale and standard debt approvals the commission and trustees granted in separate votes.

City attorney and bond counsel David Floyd told commissioners that because the authority is placing the loan directly with a bank, ‘‘you have to go through the normal debt approval procedures’’ and that the city commission must also ratify the authority’s action. Floyd also explained he will prepare documents and, if necessary, a tax opinion in connection with the note.

Staff described the machine as a trailer-mounted jetter similar to the unit the city rented for a month while evaluating needs. The vendor-supplied used unit carries low hours and, staff said, should extend service life 15 to 20 years under normal conditions. Staff indicated the purchase will be paid from capital sales-tax funds included in the capital improvement plan.

Commissioners voted unanimously on the city and authoritizing actions. After the votes the city executed a purchase order for bond counsel and recessed to allow signatures on closing documents.

The approvals taken were procedural: the commission authorized incurrence of debt (resolution 4-2025), the authority approved issuance of the 2025 revenue note (resolution 5-2025), and the authority engaged Floyd & Driver PLLC to handle documentation and closing. No additional borrowing amounts or final loan terms were disclosed on the record.

The packet and discussion indicate the city and authority expect the jetter purchase to reduce recurring rental costs and to expand local capability for sewer maintenance, but the loan closing and any lender-negotiated terms remain to be completed.","City commissioners and the Perkins Public Works Authority approved city and authority resolutions to incur debt and issue a 2025 revenue note to finance a trailer-mounted sewer jetter, and they engaged bond counsel Floyd & Driver PLLC to complete the transaction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Perkins approves five-year capital plan and 10% utility rate increase; rescinds insurance waiver stipend

Perkins awards $2.307 million water tower contract in partnership with Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Perkins approves $77,000 financing and bond counsel to buy sewer jetter