Council introduces public‑safety surcharge ordinance, approves phased amendment to ease immediate impact

The Talent City Council voted on Aug. 5 to introduce an ordinance to raise the public‑safety surcharge on water bills to $10.50 per billed unit, as part of a strategy staff says would address about $200,000 of a general‑fund shortfall. After debate and a proposed amendment, council approved a phased approach: the surcharge will increase to $8.00 effective Sept. 19, 2026, and then to $10.50 effective July 1, 2027, with the increases labeled temporary while council explores a permanent funding option such as a property‑tax levy.

City staff presented two main options: a straight increase to $10.50 (estimated to generate roughly $200,000) or a trip‑generation allocation that would shift more of the burden to nonresidential customers. Staff also proposed a tiered model with caps (examples cited: $15.30, $60.80, $200) to limit extreme outcomes for high‑use accounts. Staff said the choice to raise the surcharge now would slow the drawdown of the city's general‑fund balance and maintain payroll and reserves until longer‑term measures could be pursued.

Councilors debated equity and timing at length. Some councilors preferred a ballot‑measure (levy) approach in May 2027 to secure a long‑term funding solution; others supported an interim fee increase to avoid further erosion of fund balance. Following a motion to introduce Ordinance 2026-013-O to set the surcharge at $10.50, Councilor Coley (Speaker 9) offered and passed an amendment to phase the increase (first to $8.00, then to $10.50) and to consider the levy process as a long‑term fix. Roll‑call votes were recorded on both the amendment and the introduced ordinance.