City to consider rate hikes

Public hearings for several rate increases for city services will be on the agenda for Tuesday’s Odessa City Council meeting.

First up will be a chance to discuss a 3-percent water and sewer rate hike. The city says the changes, which would go into effect Sept. 1 and be reflected on October bills, would increase the monthly bill $1.17 for a customer who uses 5,000 gallons of water per month and $2.07 for a customer who uses 10,000 gallons per month.

Senior and disability residential customers will see no increase in rates.

The city says the increase is due to higher operational and maintenance costs.

Because of an increase in costs and fuel maintenance of solid waste trucks, the city is requesting a 6 percent increase in solid waste revenues.

For a single-family residence inside the city limits, the rate will increase from $14.25 to $15.11. Outside the city limits, the rate goes from $38 to $40.28 for a three cubic yard container with once a week pickup.

The multi-family rate would go from $7.45 to $7.90, while commercial rates would increase from $49 to $51.94 inside the city limits and $61 to $64.66 outside Odessa.

In addition, the city will hold a public hearing to address a federally mandated storm water discharge fee, which goes into effect Sept. 1. It’s expected to increase most utility bills by $1.85.

Also on the agenda, but not a public hearing, is a rate increase from Atmos Energy Corp. After the city negotiated a 20 percent reduction in the proposed increase, it says Atmos will still increase natural gas rates in Odessa by 5.6 percent. The monthly bill impact for average residential customers is $4.06.

But not everything is going up. The council will vote on a resolution to set a tax rate of 52.522750 cents per $100 property tax valuation for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. This would be a 3.954-cent reduction over the current fiscal year. The rate is also below the effective tax rate of 52.2759 cents that would keep city revenue the same as the current fiscal year.

Because the proposed rate is less than the effective rate, a public hearing isn’t required under truth in taxation acts. A final vote on the tax rate will occur Sept. 8.

Council will also consider:

>> Accepting a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for $306,986, of which Ector County will receive $104,375.

>> An interlocal agreement that allows the Odessa Police Department to buy intoxilyzer mouthpieces and other testing kits and supplies from the Texas Department of Transportation.

>> Second and final approval for standards and regulations for electronic billboards.

>> Grant applications with the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission for regional solid waste grants.

>> The city’s investment policy, approved brokers/ dealers and financial institutions list.

>> Adopting amended versions of the 2006 international building, fuel gas, mechanical, plumbing and residential codes, as well as the 2008 National Electrical Code.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

>> When: 6 p.m.

>> Where: City Hall, fifth floor council chamber, 411 W. Eighth St.

>> Call: 325-3276.