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Newport staff propose $8/month public safety fee to raise roughly $800,000 annually
Summary
As one of three operational revenue tools, staff proposed a conceptual public safety fee of $8 per residential meter equivalent (attached to utility bills) estimated to raise about $800,000 per year, with built‑in exemptions/discounts to address equity.
City staff presented a conceptual public safety fee as the first operational tool to close part of Newport’s operating gap. Using an $8 per residential meter equivalent as an illustrative example, staff estimated the fee could generate approximately $800,000 a year and be attached to the utility bill to reflect relative demand for services.
"We have included $8 a month, as the average, which would generate $800,000 a year," Nina told the council, stressing the figure is illustrative and would require further analysis. Finance Director Steve Bahar and staff explained the fee is commonly attached to utility billing because meter size and customer class help allocate the burden more accurately, and that cities commonly build exemptions or utility‑bill relief programs to protect low‑income households.
If council directs staff to proceed, staff said they would return with a deeper policy design that would model different dollar levels, distributional impacts, exemptions and administrative options before any formal adoption.
