Commenters say BPU "pilot" charge has been passed to customers; ask commission to correct practice
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Summary
A recurring written public comment and multiple speakers told the commission that the BPU pilot fee has been applied as a line item on customer bills in a way they say conflicts with the governing charter and state statute; they asked for a formal response and remedy.
A written submission read into the record Tuesday alleged that the BPU pilot — a payment in lieu of taxes intended to substitute for property tax on publicly owned utilities — has been passed through to customers as a line‑item fee in violation of state law and the UG charter.
Steve Sessions, writing on behalf of a civic group, said the county administrator previously acknowledged the collection method conflicted with the charter and that the pilot fee was supposed to be a transfer from BPU revenues to the general fund rather than a charge passed to ratepayers. "According to the Kansas State statute governing pilot, this fee is intended as payment in lieu of tax for publicly owned utilities," the written comment read. "The statute is also clear the fee cannot legally be passed on to the consumer. Yet in Wyandotte County, that is exactly what has been happening."
Sessions asked the commission to explain where the money collected through the line‑item has gone historically, to remove the fee from customer bills and to provide safeguards to prevent improper billing. He also asked the commission to provide a public response indicating how staff will correct any charter violations.
Clerk's office staff read Sessions' letter aloud as part of the public comment record; commissioners did not take immediate action on the request but several residents later referenced the pilot issue in their remarks. Commissioners and staff acknowledged receipt of many written comments and said they would follow up. Budget staff earlier in the hearing described the pilot as a dedicated revenue stream associated with the municipal utility and noted that pilot and rebate programs are part of ongoing budget conversations.
Ending: The commission did not vote on the pilot charge during the hearing. Sessions and other commenters asked for a formal written response from each commissioner; staff said public comments would be catalogued and answered as part of the record.