09/11/2026
💧 Let’s clear the water: nothing “fishy” is going on.
The City of Victor is discussing water and wastewater rates because our current rates are among the lowest in Colorado. Delaying difficult conversations does not make aging infrastructure any younger or less expensive.
Before the increase that took effect in 2026, Victor had gone more than 30 years without raising its utility rates. Frankly, allowing rates to remain unchanged for three decades was irresponsible. While past leadership avoided unpopular decisions, the costs of treatment, staffing, electricity, chemicals, equipment, regulatory compliance, repairs, and construction continued to rise.
That approach may have kept bills artificially low, but it also failed to adequately prepare the City for the infrastructure challenges it now faces. Today’s residents and City Council are being asked to confront costs that should have been addressed gradually over many years.
We saw the consequences of that deferred investment firsthand in May. A major failure forced the City to issue a Do-Not-Use Order, shut down the water treatment plant, and work around the clock to restore water service to Victor and Goldfield. That emergency was not theoretical, and it was not inexpensive. It was a clear warning that our systems cannot be maintained indefinitely through temporary repairs, emergency responses, and crossed fingers.
For a residential customer using 5,000 gallons per month, Victor’s current combined water and wastewater bill is approximately $58.95. Among the 28 Colorado communities reviewed, Victor’s bill was the lowest:
• Victor: $58.95
• Wray: $60.35
• Akron: $61.32
• Creede: $66.06
• Burlington: $70.55
• Woodland Park: $89.23
• Cañon City: $93.81
• Fairplay: $99.70
• Leadville: $142.90
• Minturn: $184.46
So, no, this is not a case of the City suddenly deciding it wants more money without looking elsewhere first.
The City has aggressively pursued grants to reduce the burden on ratepayers. Most recently, Victor secured $750,000 from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs toward the approximately $2.2 million project that replaced nearly 1.5 miles of critical waterline serving Victor and Goldfield.
The City has also significantly increased the rates charged to the mine for raw water, negotiated a long-term contract that will generate substantially more revenue, and pursued other outside funding wherever it has been available.
Those efforts matter, but grants and mine revenue cannot replace a financially sustainable utility system. Grants are competitive, restricted to eligible projects, and rarely pay for ongoing operations or the full cost of construction.
Victor still faces millions of dollars in additional needs, including replacement of the transmission main from the reservoirs, continued replacement of aging lines, and major wastewater treatment improvements.
That is why the City is having these conversations now, not because something “fishy” is happening. Rather because the current City Council and staff are choosing to address problems that were deferred for far too long. The May failure demonstrated what happens when essential infrastructure needs are postponed. Ignoring that warning would be the truly irresponsible choice.
At each public meeting, the City will:
• Review the findings of the completed water and wastewater rate studies;
• Explain the proposed rate increases for 2027;
• Provide a clear picture of the major projects facing both systems; and
• Answer questions and receive community feedback.
No one takes rate increases lightly, particularly in a community where many residents live on limited or fixed incomes. The goal is not to make Victor’s rates the highest in Colorado. The goal is to keep safe, reliable water flowing and wastewater properly treated without continuing the same pattern of postponing responsibility and leaving an even larger bill for the future.
Please join us at the VICCI Center:
📅 Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m.
📅 Thursday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m.
📅 Saturday, October 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Bring your questions. Review the numbers. Hear directly from the city. These meetings are exactly where concerns should be raised and facts should be discussed.
Victor and Goldfield water customers are encouraged to attend. Goldfield customers will not be charged for wastewater service.
