Columbia’s City Council, city staff and the public are in the process of hashing out a budget for the next fiscal year. Among the proposals are increases in some city utility rates. That’s got some people asking why the City needs to own utilities in the first place, since some private providers are a little cheaper right now.City Manager Bill Watkins says rates change, but one reason for a city-owned utility doesn’t.
“With the city control of energy which I think is going to be critical in the next few years, we can determine our own energy fate instead of being at the hands of some very, very large conglomerate whose primary motive is a return on investment,” Watkins said.
Watkins is proposing a one-dollar per month increase for residential trash service and a 10 percent increase in water rates.
