Britt Residents Could See Increases to Utilities and Property Taxes Tonight

The City of Britt is asking the council tonight to amend ordinances on water and sewer rates that would give residents specific amounts each year rather than show just the 3 percent increases that the former council approved in July of 2023.  A public hearing will also be held on the issuance of a general obligation capital loan (series 2024) not to exceed $375,000 to finance a portion of the costs for construction and improvement to the municipal sewer system. If approved, the resolution would increase property taxes annually by up to $34.12 per one hundred thousand dollars of valuation.  It was stated by Britt City Administrator Elizabeth Ibarra at the September 16th special meeting that the city could utilize sewer revenues to pay for this.  However the resolution will still increase property taxes and principal and interest on the proposed loan agreement will be payable from the Debt Service Levy.

See Resolution here. The resolution was published with the wrong date.  Resolution for GO Loan to increase taxes

According to tonight’s agenda, the council will vote on the 2^nd reading to amend section 6-5-8 of the current water ordinance, which does not have an assigned ordinance number, and whether to wave the 3^rd reading to amend section 6-5-9 of that same unnumbered ordinance.  The municipal code of ordinances on the city of Britt’s website shows ordinance # 505 which only lists the large rate increases that took place in 2021 and 2022, taking Britt to one of the highest water rates in the state and the country.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average water bill in the U.S. for a family of 4 is $73 per month.  According to the Iowa League of Cities, the median in Iowa for 5,000 gallons of water used (which is about 1.5 people) is only $42.50 as compared to Britt’s current rate of $85.16.

On the past and proposed ordinances, there are discrepancies with wrong dates and missing ordinance numbers. Documents show ordinance # 505 which was passed January 5, 2021 changed to ordinance # 514 on June 6, 2023 establishing a 3 percent increase on water rates every year.  Pdf files of the proposed amended water rate ordinance is shown here along with the former ones.

Click here: Ordinance-No-505-Increase-Water-Rates 21-22

Click here: Ordinance no 514 Water Rates Ordinance June 6, 2023

Click here:  2024 Water Rates

The council will also vote on the 2^nd reading of an unassigned ordinance # and whether to wave the 3^rd reading to amend section 6-5-10 of the sewer rental ordinance.  Documents show ordinance # 506 was dated wrong when it was approved January 5, 2021.  The date shown on the official document published on the city of Britt website says January 5th, 2020, which would render the ordinance invalid.  Pdf files of the proposed amended ordinance on sewer rental fees is shown here along with the former ones.

Click here: Ordinance No 506 Sewer Rates Jan 2021

Click here: 2024 Sewer Rental

In addition, the council will vote on whether to increase garbage and recycling rates among residents in the city. The council is being asked to amend an ordinance with again no assigned ordinance number that would go into effect immediately which would increase recycling and garbage rates substantially this year.

Recycling is currently at $4.18. If this ordinance is approved on October 1st, it will jump 32% to $5.52 for this year. A 64-gallon trash container will increase 5.4% to $12.42. That is nearly a 40% increase in 2024. In addition, recycling rates are proposed to increase every year by 2% starting July 1, 2025 in perpetuum. Garbage is scheduled to increase by 3% in 2025 and every year beyond.

The proposed refuse ordinance can be found by clicking here: 2024 Refuse Collection Rates

Compounding the situation, the council was informed earlier this year by City Administrator Elizabeth Ibarra that there would be no increases by the city and Absolute Waste to garbage and recycling, if the council would agree to becoming a member of the Landfill of North Iowa. A chapter 28E agreement was approved on March 5th with that understanding.  The 28E Agreement required the city to make a lump sum payment of $5,000 by July 1, 2024. The sum of $60,706.80 is payable in five equal installments of $12,141.36 July 1st, 2024 through July 1st, 2028. In addition to the installments, the city is required to pay annual per capita fees but those amounts were not specified in the 28E agreement that was approved on March 5th.