Why do water rates need to be raised?

The previous Water Cost of Service Rate Analysis Study was performed in 2011 and resulted in five years of fixed rate increases followed by no increases from 2015 through 2017. During the last three years those rates did not recover the actual cost to provide water service. The rates need to be restructured to more appropriately reflect water system costs that do not vary with the volume of water provided.

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1. Why do water rates need to be raised?
2. What would happen if we didn't raise the rates?
3. Why is a fixed service charge included on my bill?
4. I liked that three units (3,000 gallons) of water were included in the bimonthly service charge we had before. Why do we have to change?
5. I am on a fixed income and am a low water user. Why is my bill going up by $11 per month while a large user's bill is only going up by $5 per month?
6. Why don't multi-family, commercial, and irrigation customers have tiered rates like single-family residential?
7. Why does the City bill for water every two months instead of monthly like most of my other bills?
8. Why is $6 million needed per year for Capital Improvements?
9. Why doesn't new development pay for capital improvements?
10. What are the major costs to operate the water system?
11. What has been done to lower operating costs?
12. Why don't you lay off employees or reduce salaries to cut costs?
13. Does a water customer in Napa pay more or less than similar customers in neighboring communities?