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York council reviews utility rate recommendations and city valuation; council plans further review
Summary
City staff recommended a 2.5% annual rate program for sewer/landfill and a uniform water charge; staff also reported property valuation rose from $702 million to $881 million and proposed lowering the tax levy so the city’s tax asking does not increase.
City of York staff on Aug. 21 presented recommended changes to sewer, landfill and water rates and summarized the city’s valuation increase and proposed tax-levy adjustment.
Utilities: James, presenting the results of a Nebraska Rural Water review and HDR Engineering capital review, said the city should adopt a five-year plan with a 2.5% annual increase for enterprise funds. He identified proposed landfill per-ton adjustments — municipal solid waste +$3/ton, trees/yard waste +$2/ton, construction and demolition +$2/ton, and special waste +$6/ton (special waste disposal would require state approval). James also said the water study recommends a single uniform charge of $242 per 100 CCF (eliminating the lower stepped rate for the first 100 CCF) so rates better reflect production costs.
Tax levy and valuation: Finance staff Py reported the city’s total assessed valuation rose from $702 million to $881 million. To keep the city’s dollar tax asking level roughly the same, staff proposed lowering the city tax levy to 23 cents per $100 of valuation; the transcript contained a fragmented prior-levy figure and staff briefed council that the change would hold the city’s tax asking near last year’s total. Py said staff will publicize the budget and rate proposals and that the council will hold a public hearing at the next meeting.
What council decided: Council moved the items forward for the next meeting and scheduled public notice and a budget hearing. No final rate ordinance adoption occurred at this meeting; the matter will return for additional readings and public comment.
Next steps: Staff to publish notice and bring second readings of the sewer (Ordinance No. 2399), landfill (No. 2400) and water (No. 2401) rates back to council; a public hearing on the budget and rates will be held at the next meeting.
