Cascade County officials are planning an increase to the bulk water rate at their three public water distribution stations.

The water rate was last changed in 2017 and is currently 25 cents per 75 gallons.

During a June 26 discussion with commissioners, county staff said the program was operating at a deficit because the rate didn’t cover rising operational costs and the need for future capital improvements.

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In 2025, the county dispensed 24,708,024 gallons at a rate of $0.00341 per gallon, generating $84,318.81 of total revenue, compared to $103,132 of operating expenses, for a $19,290.74 loss.

The county paid $90,132 to the City of Great Falls, which charges the county $0.00377 per gallon, and $13,477.55 to NorthWestern Energy, for site operations.

The existing water stations need ongoing repairs and planned capital improvements, including roof repair and/or replacement, structural repairs and general site maintenance, according to county staff.

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“At the current rate structure, there is no dedicated funding mechanism sufficient to support these long-term facility needs,” staff wrote in their proposed rate adjustment.

County Public Works is proposing to increase the rate to 25 cents per 25 gallons, or a penny per gallon, to cover the cost of water purchased from the city and annual electricity costs, plus provide funding for future repairs and improvements.

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Trista Besich, county finance officer, said she built the budget based on the new rates going into effect Jan. 1 since the county needs to do public notifications and a public meeting with a formal vote to change the rates.

She calculated the first six months of the fiscal year at the current rate for an estimated revenue of $42,500 and six months at the proposed rate for an estimated revenue of $97,500. That totals an estimated $140,000 in revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with $151,456 in projected costs.

During the June 26 meeting, Les Payne, county public works director, said the county hasn’t increased rates when the city and NorthWestern Energy have.

“We are not coming out balanced,” he said.

The county’s three water stations are old and need work, Payne said.

He also suggested the county move to an automated cashless system, rather than the current payment system that only accepts quarters.

The card reader machines cost an estimated $25,000 each, Payne said, plus monthly internet fees.

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Public works staff compared rates with other Montana cities and Great Falls remains among the lowest.

The City of Choteau also charges a penny per gallon and it’s two cents a gallon in Missoula, according to the public works data.

Payne said they mostly see homeowners and small vendors using the water stations.

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Payne said he wouldn’t install card readers this year, but would increase rates and build a reserve, then see what the budget looks like next year. He said he’d probably test a card reader at one site to see how it works before converting the other two stations.

The stations currently only take quarters and water distribution is metered on a timer.

“This thing’s old, probably why it still works,” Commissioner Eric Hinebauch said of the coin-operated system.

Commissioner Joe Briggs said the stations used to be metered by gallon, but had to switch to the timer so customers weren’t shorted when there were changes in water pressure. But, it’s not a perfectly calibrated system, he said, and typically customers are getting a little more than they paid for.

Payne said he thinks a credit card system may be more precise with dispensing water.

Briggs said that the county approached Gore Hill and Vaughn water districts about installing water filling stations since the county was receiving requests for stations in those areas, but the districts declined, citing concerns about the draw on their smaller water systems.

Briggs said the county took over the water filling stations when the city announced abruptly they were shutting them down, but the county would like to get out of the water business.

“They are an optional service,” he said, and the county isn’t obligated to operate them.

Payne said his office has been receiving requests for letters to homebuilders stating that the county can guarantee water supply when they build cisterns.

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Payne said they can’t provide such letters since if the city shut off the water supply, which happened during a water main break a few years ago, the county can’t provide water at the filling stations.