Small Town News

New Meadows approves unpopular rate hike

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After much deliberation, the City of New Meadows voted to approve the controversial resolution that will increase the average water user's bill by over $200 per year.

Though the city has routinely raised rates by 3% in the last few years, the new resolution marks the first time the city has increased rates in such a drastic fashion.

The base water and sewer bill goes up from $68 to $70. The amount of usage allowed for the

base rate decreases from 7,000 gallons to 3,000 gallons, and residents will pay $2.25 for every thousand gallons used above that amount, and an additional $2.35 for sewer.

The monthly billing for vacant, occupiable structures will rise from $14.85 per month to the base bill of $70. Any lot that has a water and service connection that has a structure that is occupiable will be charged the $70 rate.

The council made a few tweaks to the original proposal, so that

residents who use up to 3000 gallons, rather than 1000, would still pay only the base rate of 70 dollars.

The city's rationale for the move, in the face of fierce protest from residents, is that they are down over $10,000 in revenue from their original budget projections in both the sewer and water fund. The shortfall is due to the high number of foreclosed properties,

There are currently around 25 properties listed as foreclosed in the city, which is a considerable percentage of all livable dwellings within the city.

Furthermore, the city population has dwindled from an estimated 507 residents in 2006, to under 400, according to the 2009 census bureau estimate.

This loss of revenue, Quails said, has caused the city to have to cut back on projects and infrastructure maintenance, potentially putting them at risk of EPA fines or worse, infrastructure failure.

The city's water system would cost more than $1.5 million to replace, while the sewer system could cost more than $500,000 to upgrade. While both of the systems are currently in fair condition, the city has no money stored away for an eventual replacement, and few dollars to spend maintaining the

systems,

During the several public meetings discussing the rate hike, many citizens demanded that the City

Administrator position be eliminated, and there were calls to drop the Public Works Assistant as well, in order to pay for these funds.

Mayor Stillman and the council asserted her belief that both positions are necessary, and that the council had considered staff reductionsrecently and decided they were not the right move.

Many residents said that the city is spending money too much and could afford some of these maintenance and savings goals if they trimmed spending.



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© 2011 The Adams County Record Council, Idaho. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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