Independent Audit Confirms High Water Rates

An audit performed by an independent accounting firm found that the City of Cedar Park has not improperly billed for water utilities, confirming that the high water prices in the city are accurate.

The firm of Belt Harris Pechacek presented its 46-page report to the City Council during a regular meeting Thursday. The firm conducted the audit after the City Council voted to undergo an external review of its utility billing procedures on October 8 due to public concern about high water bills, according to a press release sent to Patch.

The report found that that water was measured correctly, water meters read consumption accurately and bills were calculated correctly.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but you’re not entitled to your own facts. So what we looked at were the facts,” Robert Belt, managing partner of the firm, told the Cedar Park City Council. “We went back and looked at a five-month period and we recalculated every single water bill to make sure that the City had calculated them correctly. We found zero difference in the calculation on those water bills in accordance with the City’s rate structure.”

For those interested, click this link for the full report.