Columbia water rate increase on council's agenda

The 2025 budget process continues for the Columbia City Council.

A decision on increases to water rates , parks and recreation fees and rental conservation inspection fees were postponed from the council's Aug. 5 meeting to the one Monday night.

Public hearings Monday also could set the city's property tax rates and improvements at Westwinds Park, 1132 Westwinds Drive near Stadium Boulevard.

The current property tax ceiling for the city is $0.4302 per $100 assessed valuation. The city's property tax rate in 2023 was $0.4032, increasing by $0.0043 this year to bring the city's proposed property tax rate to $0.4075 per $100 assessed valuation. The city's finance department has estimated this rate provides about 8.7% of the city's general fund or $10.7 million toward "critical services" for residents, per a council memo.

Proposed Westwinds Park improvements include playground replacement, retaining wall replacement, shelterimprovements, bench replacement and trail improvements. Project cost is $150,000, funded by the Park Sales Tax.

The meeting Monday also will serve as the swearing-in for Valerie Caroll as Ward 1 council member and Brian Schaeffer as the city's new fire chief.

An item in Monday's consent agenda finalizes results of the Aug. 6 election, which elected Carroll to the council and extended the city's 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax another 10 years. Sales tax implementation is part of a first-read bill. The current sales tax expires Dec. 31, 2025 and the renewal starts Jan. 1, 2026. Another item will authorize a cost share with the Missouri Department of Transportation to add sidewalks on the St. Charles Road overpass on Interstate 70 as part of the ongoing Improve I-70 project.

The council also will receive an updated report regarding the annexation of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant and the utilization of Payment in Lieu of Taxes on utility bills. In previous meetings, Jim Windsor has brought concerns to the council regarding that city utilities customers have been overcharged since 2019 for PILOT payments on water utility bills, and possibly on electric bills as well, in violation of the city's charter.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia water rate increase on council's agenda