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Foley council opts to bill using the lower ‘lock’ month after sewer-rate error
Summary
After staff analysis showed roughly 281 accounts were adversely affected and an estimated $4,500 revenue impact, the Foley City Council directed staff to use the lesser of two months for the winter sewer-rate lock and will bring a formal ordinance amendment forward in August.
Council discussed an error in the sewer-rate lock calculation that left some customers with unexpectedly high bills. Staff presented an analysis showing roughly 281 accounts were adversely affected and estimated the change to the lock calculation would reduce forecasted revenue by about $4,500.
Stacy, the staff subject-matter expert on utility billing, described the hours spent reconciling meter reads and the software work needed to correct bills. "We did work many, many hours today to try to get the readings in and accurate and all the reporting to give to you the council… yes tomorrow will be a little bit more work to make this adjustment but I am confident that we can get it done on the software side," Stacy said.
Council members debated options (locking to January usage, using an average, or continuing current practice). The council moved to direct staff to use the lesser of the two months for the winter sewer-rate lock for the current billing cycle, with a formal ordinance amendment to be drafted and presented at the August meeting.
Staff said bills due to be mailed will be adjusted in the next 48 hours in accordance with the council's direction, and that the formal ordinance language will be included on the August agenda for final adoption.
