Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Good Thunder council approves utility rate increase and monthly billing change
Summary
Council approved resolutions to increase utility rates effective Jan. 1 and to move to monthly billing; members discussed implementation logistics, potential effects on budget billing, and payment processing fees.
The Good Thunder City Council voted to approve resolutions to increase utility rates effective Jan. 1 and to change the utility billing cycle to monthly statements beginning next February.
Council members discussed logistical implications of moving from quarterly or budget billing to monthly billing, including whether budget billing would continue, the need to program new billing cycles in the city's billing software, and the effect of payment-processing fees for debit or credit-card payments. One councilmember noted that some residents pay via automatic debit and that the city currently cannot pull payments directly from checking accounts without a third-party processor.
The council approved resolution 20246 (rate increases effective Jan. 1) and then approved resolution 20247 (monthly billing changes), both by voice vote; the transcript records the motions and "all in favor" calls but does not include roll-call tallies. Staff said moving to monthly billing may reduce outstanding balances over time and that staff will provide implementation details as the software is reprogrammed.
The council also discussed mailing format (postcards versus full-size mailings) and agreed to continue using envelopes for clarity, although cost savings from postcards was noted. No appeals or amendments were offered immediately after the votes.
