Utility fee defeated as council tables budget plan
City council defeated a proposed MCAE fee and approved raising 2019 tax increases from 4 to 7 percent while tabling the item to July 3. Mayor Clugston urged against the fee amid hopes of future power dividends, with discussion aiming to close a 16 million revenue gap and erase reliance on reserves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ted Clugston
Coun
Kris Samraj
Medicine Hat Debates City Fee on Power and Gas Rights of Way
City councillors narrowly rejected a proposal to add a rights of way fee for private utility providers using municipal gas and power lines. The plan would have generated about 6.3 million annually to close a 12 million budget gap by 2022 and followed years of energy revenue declines for the city owned power company. Supporters argued broader cost sharing, while critics noted existing power plant profits and suggested tax increases or public advertising instead.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Coun
Phil Turnbull
Turnbull
Genco
City of
Medicine Hat
Alberta
City of Medicine Hat
Power Company
Rights of Way
Kris Samraj
Ted Clugston
Clugston
Julie Friesen
Jim Turner
Brian Varga
Lethbridge
Red Deer
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Collin Gallant
Twitter
Robert Dumanowski
Darren Hirsch
Jamie McIntosh
Medicine Hat the
Gas
Peggy Revels
Christian Ferguson
Sam Tripp
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Medicine Hat News
Angela Ibach