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Council hears proposal to require voter approval for fees collected through utility bills
Summary
A council member proposed drafting a charter amendment to require voter approval for imposing, increasing or changing any fee collected through the city's utility billing system; councilors and staff discussed charter vs. ordinance approach, sunset clauses and timeline for referral to the ballot.
A council member proposed on July 16 that the City of Saint Helens refer a charter amendment to voters requiring majority approval for new fees or changes to fees collected through the city's utility-billing system.
The proposed referral text (presented as a draft concept) would define “fee” as any charge collected through utility billing that is not a direct user charge for consumption, require voter approval for imposing or changing such fees, and include ballot‑measure requirements that specify the exact dollar amount, a sunset date…
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