Perry budget calls for fee increases

City residents could see their utility bills go up slightly under a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, but the millage rate would stay the same.

City Council members on Monday held the first meeting to discuss the fiscal 2017 budget, which would run from July 1 through June 30, 2017. The proposal called for increases in some city fees.

Also, the budget includes funding for two new police officers, but Chief Steve Lynn told the council that based on the department’s call volume, he really needs six more officers.

The largest proposed fee increase is the residential fire fee, which funds fire services. That would go up $2.14 monthly, from $17.26 for a single residence to $19.40. Commercial fire fees would remain the same.

City Manager Lee Gilmour based that recommendation on figures that show that in the past two years, 79 percent of fire calls are residential.

The stormwater fee would go from $2.10 per month to $3. Gilmour based that on an increase in reporting and system maintenance required by the federal Clean Water Act.

Garbage collection fees would stay the same for residents, except that those with an extra trash can would pay 20 cents more per month.

The base fee for natural gas would go from $6.70 per month to $7.60, which was to “support the administrative costs the fund is charged,” the proposed budget stated.

Gilmour said most city residents do not have natural gas. Considering all the fee increases, those who don’t have natural gas would pay $3.04 cents more per month in fee increases. Those with natural gas would pay $3.94 cent more.

The budget will require council approval before it goes into effect.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 7:44 PM with the headline "Perry budget calls for fee increases."