Kingsford Heights advances budget-billing program for municipal utilities on first reading

Kingsford Heights’ Town Council completed the first reading of Ordinance 2026-001 on Jan. 12, authorizing a voluntary budget-billing program for town-owned water and utilities.

The ordinance, read in full during the meeting, cites the town’s home rule authority and state statutes (IC 8-1.5-3 and IC 36-5-2-9) as the legal basis for offering equalized monthly payments based on a customer’s most recent 12 months of billing. The program is voluntary; enrollment requires 12 months of billing history at the service address, no delinquent balance at enrollment and agreement to program terms, the ordinance says.

Council members and the clerk debated several operational details during the session: whether customers in energy-assistance programs would qualify, how to handle late payments for budget-billed accounts, and whether the program should be treated as a pilot before full implementation. The town clerk said there "shouldn't be any late charges if they're on the budget program," but also noted accounts could be terminated for nonpayment (transcript, Jan. 12).

A motion to adopt the ordinance on its first reading carried on a voice vote recorded in the meeting transcript (members referenced '3 ayes, 1 nay' with additional qualifiers from councilors). Several members asked that the clerk develop application details, eligibility forms and any necessary council approvals for adjustments before the final reading.

The ordinance delegates administration to the town clerk-treasurer, with the clerk required to present payment arrangements to the council for approval and perform an annual reconciliation of participating accounts. Councilors indicated a willingness to move forward with first and second readings and then hold the final reading after the clerk returns with the program specifics.