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Council moves to percentage-based garbage administrative fee and outlines proposed utility rate increases
Summary
Council voted to apply an approximate 1.375% administrative charge to compensate the city for garbage billing services and discussed proposed 5% water and sewer base-rate increases and standardization of formation-well percentages; staff will prepare resolutions and schedule hearings for implementation Oct. 1 of the fiscal year.
The Soda Springs City Council approved a change to how the city recovers administrative costs for the municipal garbage contract and reviewed proposed utility rate changes for the next fiscal year.
Staff recommended moving from a fixed monthly administrative charge (historically collected as a fixed sum) to a percentage‑based administrative fee tied to the garbage billing, proposing about 1.375 percent to equate to roughly the prior ~$500 monthly administrative amount. After discussion, the council moved, seconded and approved the percentage approach by voice vote.
Separately, staff presented proposed FY2025 utility adjustments: a 5 percent base increase for water, a 5 percent increase for sewer, and standardization of formation‑well charges (a recommendation to set the formation‑well portion at 32 percent of the water base and normalize sewer bond percentages at 42.5 percent). The council directed staff to prepare formal resolutions, noted that some changes will require a public hearing, and instructed staff to schedule the hearings and implement approved changes beginning Oct. 1 at the start of the fiscal year.
Councilmembers asked staff to double‑check labels and the math in rate tables and to ensure the fee schedule changes do not produce unintended consequences for specific customer classes (including mobile homes and vacation rates). The council also agreed to consider garbage, utility and fee schedule updates together and to return with final, consistent resolutions for adoption.
