The City Council voted recently to make a change on utility taxes. Your October bill was consistent with that change. Henceforth, utility taxes will occur as an inter-fund ‘tax’ on gross revenues the City receives. Customers will no longer have to pay utility taxes to the City. This is similar how most municipalities handle utility taxes. Rest assured, the same percentages of utility monies that have historically gone toward helping pay for the police and fire departments, will continue to go toward those things; no funding will be cut. The City Council also voted – as it always does near the turn of a year – to adjust customer rates for water usage, sewer service, and garbage pickup. Those rates were increased, due to inflation and upcoming needs such as the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. The garbage rate increase was intentionally delayed until January 1, 2025.
