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St. Helens budget committee weighs new general service fee and risks to police funding
Summary
City staff proposed a new general service fee to close a projected general fund gap; committee members and the public raised legal, equity and timing concerns about collecting the charge on utility bills and its effect on the police budget and reserves.
City of St. Helens finance staff laid out a proposal to introduce a general service fee billed on utility statements to help close a projected shortfall in the general fund, prompting questions from committee members about legality, equity and timing.
Gloria Butch, city finance director and budget officer, told the Budget Committee the general service fee would be billed through utility bills for efficiency and is intended to sustain core general services and restore reserve levels. "The fee will be used to sustain all general services and maintain a 20% general fund reserve balance," Butch said during the presentation.
The committee discussed multiple fee levels and forecast scenarios.…
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