Herington approves master fee schedule ordinance, keeps current fees unchanged

The Herington City Commission voted to adopt a master fee schedule ordinance on Nov. 29, 2025, consolidating the city’s existing charges into a single document while postponing any immediate fee increases.

City staff told the commission the ordinance “as written… has no increases from the existing. It’s just compiled into 1 document,” and said future adjustments would be made by resolution rather than by many separate ordinances. Mayor Eric Garris moved to accept the schedule "as presented," and commissioners answered with a voice vote in favor.

Staff recommended using the 2026 budget season to research and consider either a comprehensive update to most fees or targeted changes for items that lag behind cost recovery, such as cemetery site fees and water tap fees. One staff presenter said a comprehensive update could be approved in 2026 with implementation in 2027, while targeted reviews for tap or cemetery fees could occur sooner. Commissioners asked staff to analyze whether certain fees are breaking even and requested comparisons with other jurisdictions before any increases.

Supporters of the ordinance said the master schedule would simplify administration and reduce the need to pass many individual fee ordinances. Opponents or cautious members emphasized the need for research and pro forma comparisons before raising fees that affect residents.

The ordinance consolidates existing fees into a master schedule and authorizes the commission to update fees by resolution. The commission did not adopt any fee increases at the meeting; staff and commissioners will take the next steps during budget workshops and future meetings.

The commission's next steps include directing staff to research tap and cemetery fees and reporting findings during upcoming budget work sessions.