News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Town of Monterey passed its new fiscal year budget on second reading Tuesday night.
The $4.7 million budget features a status-quo approach because of COVID-19. The third and final reading of the budget comes in June.
The board also approved a five percent increase in water and sewer rates. On minimum water usage, the average bill would increase 25 cents per month.
Aldermen voted to eliminate the $2 administrative charge on those who pay water bills in person and do not have the bill with them. Alderman J.J. Reels made the motion to eliminate the fee.
Reels asked city officials if they charged the $2 on those who called the office to pay their water bills. The answer was no.
“It’s the exact same thing and we’re charging one and not the other,” Reels said. “So I think we just should do away with it and be done with it.”
Mayor Bill Wiggins said the regulation dates back some ten years. He said he did not why the regulation had been implemented. A total of 111 people have been charged the $2 fee since July, 2019.
