911 fee will be on your water bill

CITY HALL—Bereans will see a fee tacked on their monthly water bills beginning in the new year, part of a plan to pay the city's portion of countywide 911 operating expenses for 2026.

Any entity which does not pay Kentucky state sales tax will pay $3.50 per month/$42 annually. This includes churches and nonprofits. Small businesses will pay $42 monthly/$500 annually. Large or industrial businesses will pay $125 monthly/$1,500 annually.

These figures were decided during a special called work session held Tuesday evening. All eight Councilmembers agreed to the plan after reviewing the options presented to them by the city's administrator, Shawn Sandlin. There has not yet been an official vote on the measure, however.

The water bill was the only collection vehicle presented by Sandlin, but different figures were discussed, in order to raise $873,120, Berea's share of the total 4.3 million necessary for Madison County's 911 to operate in 2026. The County Fiscal Court voted earlier this month to also use the water bill for its fee collection. Sandlin told the Council that the water bill approach would make things easier if in the future Berea once again partners with the County for fee collection.

Madison County's portion of the 911 call center's total 2026 operating budget is $1,018,640. The City of Richmond will pay the balance of $2,88,240 from its general fund. This is after its City Commission withdrew from an interlocal agreement with Berea and the County to share services, have a standard fee, and let the County collect the fees on behalf of all three jurisdictions on the annual property tax bill.

Under that previous arrangement, residents would have paid, on average, about $10 less annually. Commercial properties could pay less on this plan, since the fee is fixed, and not customized according to a structure's square footage, as had been the original plan. Public schools, as noncommercial entities, will pay the $42 annual fee. Berea College, however, will be considered a large business. The fee is per water meter.

The options had been determined by a working group that included Sandlin, Kevin Howard, general manager of Berea Municipal Utilities, and the City's finance director, Susan Helton.

Option 1 was to charge noncommercial water customers $3.50 per month/$42 annually, small businesses $12.50 per month/$150 annually, and large and industrial customers $25 per month/$300 annually. This would result in a citywide collection of $400,404, about half the necessary funds. Sandlin said the remainder would need to be covered by using the City's general fund, making Option 1 unpopular with Councilmembers.

Option 2 was to charge noncommercial water customers $3.50 per month/$42 annually, small businesses $25.00 per month/$300 annually, and large and industrial customers $83.33 per month/$1,000 annually. This would result in collection of $587, 504, leaving the City to cover the remaining $285,616.

Option 3 was to charge noncommercial water customers $4.83 per month/$58 annually, small businesses $33.33 per month/$400 annually, and large and industrial customers $125 per month/$1,500 annually. This would result in collection of $895,496, leaving the City with a surplus of $22, 376.

The plan Council chose was a modification of Option 2. There are 5,692 noncommercial accounts in the City, 863 small business accounts, and 83 large or industrial ones.

The fee, once adopted, must come before the Public Service Commission, the state's utilities watchdog, before it can be implemented. Sandlin said the approval process should take about a month. The first payment is due to the County on behalf of the 911 call center in January 2026.

A special called public meeting to present the water bill fee before it is codified by an ordinance will be held on November 12. The time of the special called meeting will be determined at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 4, at 6:30, in the City Annex, 304 Chestnut Street. The entrance is in the back.