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Resident urges Council to dedicate excess franchise fees to fire station debt payoff
Summary
Gregg Larson asked the Council to honor prior assurances that excess franchise-fee revenue would go to fire station debt service, citing $270,000 in annual debt service, an expected $165,000 excess over 15 years, and a $2.5 million total burden on residents if fees are not redirected.
Resident Gregg Larson told the Council he had raised the issue a month earlier and pressed for clarity on how excess franchise fees would be managed. Larson said the fees were "another tax from the City," and that when the bonds were approved the public was told any excess fees would go to the fire station bonds. He said $270,000 is needed to cover annual debt service for the fire station, that an excess of $165,000 will accrue over the next 15 years as bonds mature, and that residents and businesses will pay about $2.5 million in additional fees if the excess is not dedicated to bond payoff.
Councilmembers said the issue will be addressed during the budget season. Councilmember Tena Monson noted franchise fees would be discussed in upcoming budget meetings and Mayor David Grant agreed staff should provide Larson a formal response; Grant added that "the bonds could not be paid off prior to nine years."
