Staff writer
Hillsboro City Council met Tuesday to discuss utility rates for 2014, and unanimously approved a proposed increase in both electric and sanitation rates.
Electric rates will go up about 10 percent. The same base rate of $9.00 per month will be charged for residential and commercial customers.
City Administrator Larry Paine based the adjustment on rates coming from the Kansas Power Pool. He said the cost of electricity includes not only usage, but also transmission and capacity fees.
An increase in sanitation charges was also approved. The minimum charge for residential users will rise from the current rate of $8.75 to $12.75 for one cubic yard of material per pickup.
Possible raises in water and sewer rates were also debated. The council opted to collect more information before they try to finalize each ordinance at the next meeting.
In other business
- In an article printed in the Dec. 18 edition of the Hillsboro Star-Journal, it was reported that the city of Hillsboro’s water department ended the year more than $280,000 under budget. At the city council meeting Dec. 17, members were discussing how to set the water utility’s reserve rate for 2014. Administrator Larry Paine said a fully funded reserve for Hillsboro at the end of 2014 would be $330,952. The difference between that and the current reserve level is $280,952.
- The council also unanimously voted Merlin Funk onto the Hillsboro fire department.