Decatur residents may see their water bills go up a few dollars beginning Oct. 1 after the Board of Aldermen approved a 1-percent increase to water rates for the 2019 fiscal year.
Water rates were the only added cost to residents as the board worked to meet the obligations of city government while keeping the burden off the taxpayers.
“We’re keeping our millage at 38 mills,” said city clerk Brenda Harper. “We’re not raising our taxes.”
However, renters and new homeowners will see their water deposits for new service go up $75 after Oct. 1. The board approved the increase to cover the cost of replacing garbage cans, which are being stolen when renters move out.
“It’s going to be for everybody,” Harper said. “It’s for new people moving in.”
Along with the increase, the board agreed to begin recording the serial numbers for each garbage can. When a new resident’s can is dropped off, the serial number will be attached to their file. If the can is not returned when the resident moves out, the deposit will be forfeited to cover the cost of replacing it.
For the 2019 fiscal year, Decatur plans to bring in about $1,272,111 into the general fund and plans to spend about $826,345 from that revenue. About $357,000 from the general fund will go to the Police Department and about $262,000 will go toward streets.
Decatur also has a Street Improvement Fund, which is funded with three ad valorem tax mills and three road and bridge mills, for a total of about $22,000. Revenue from garbage service also goes into the Street Improvement Fund, which is projected to have a total revenue of $59,800 for FY19.
In a public hearing for the budget Tuesday, the board heard input from residents on the proposed expenditures for the next 12 months. While no resident’s voiced concerns about the water rate or garbage deposit, Decatur resident Gus Vallas did ask whether the board planned to do anything about overgrown properties in the next year.
“We’ve got some bad grown up areas all over town,” he said. “Are y’all going to be doing anything about these properties not being maintained?”
Vallas said overgrown lots and cluttered yards make a bad first impression on visitor, which makes it difficult to bring new residents to the town.
Mayor David Marshall said the board had previously discussed the issue of overgrown lots. A letter was drafted that informed residents they needed to clean their properties, or it would be declared a public menace and threat to public safety.
The letter had not been sent out as of Tuesday, but Marshall said the board shared Vallas’ concerns and was working to resolve the issue.
“We just got that letter put together, I think, two meetings ago,” he said. “We’re in the process of sending that out.”
During Tuesday’s meeting the board approved a list of properties, so the city could send letters to the owners. If no progress is made, the city will cut the yard at the owner’s expense.
Also, on Tuesday the Board of Aldermen approved:
A 1-percent pay increase for all full-time employees beginning Oct. 1;
Rehiring all current city employees, a formality which must be done at the beginning of each fiscal year;
Applying for the Assistance Firefighters Grant from FEMA; and
Paying up to $2,800 for clearing out the ditch on Medgar Evers.
