Floydada City Hall at sunrise. (Ryan Crowe/FCR)
FLOYDADA – If you live in Floydada and the city disconnects your power or water due to non-payment, you currently have to pay a $15 fee to get services turned back on. But soon, that rate will increase, and city council members hope that increase sends a message to habitual offenders.
Tuesday evening the council approved a plan to increase the charge from a flat $15 to one that will cost $50 per each utility. An initial plan to charge less was met with concern from council members, who suggested the $50 as a way to recoup some of the costs to the city each time a meter had to be disconnected by city employees.
Council members agreed to the new amount with an amended plan. They also wished to remind residents that partial payments are not accepted by the city, and that organizations like Spirit of Sharing and Caprock Community Action Agency were available for anyone needing assistance on utility bills.
New residents to the city will also see a $100 utility deposit increase from $150 to $250.
Other items the council approved Tuesday evening were the previously-discussed five percent landfill tipping fee increase and accepting the state’s agreed-upon rate increase for Atmos Energy.
The council and City Attorney Karen Houchin codified city language for anyone wishing to add solar panels to their home, specifically language that lays out that Floydada Power & Light will not purchase excess energy from residents, something that larger municipalities in the state can do through the use of smart meters.
The council also agreed to the 2023 tax rate of $0.454 per $100 of valuation on homes. City Manager Darrell Gooch explained the rate was lower than previous years, but with the valuations of homes rising, the city would see an increase in revenue. That increase will fund a cost of living raises of 6.25 percent per city employee for the upcoming year.
The council is next set to meet on October 20 at 6:30 p.m.
