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Committee hears that utility fees can exceed property tax for many households
Summary
Staff told the committee that for many households utility bills can be larger than property-tax bills and that enterprise funds operate more like household budgets; the committee agreed to examine fee structures along with the general fund.
City staff explained the difference between enterprise funds (which operate like a household budget and must account for depreciation) and the general fund (which does not depreciate assets in the same way). "The enterprise funds operate more like a household budget does," Staff member (S2) said, and he urged the committee to consider enterprise fees when assessing resident burden.
Staff gave a specific range to illustrate the point: "the average home in the city is paying 1,200 to $1,400 a year on utilities," Staff member (S2) said, and noted that residents may feel those fees more acutely than property-tax changes. Committee members responded that the committee should review enterprise fund schedules and proposed changes alongside general fund items.
