Columbia utility fee hike draws protests

A proposed increase in the fee paid mainly for electricity drew complaints from a handful of Columbia residents Tuesday.

The increase from 3 to 5 percent was the sole criticism of a new $291.7 million city spending plan taking shape.

No protests occurred over a separate 9.5 percent raise in water and sewer bills.

Raising the fee on power, telephone and cable television bills is a tax hike in disguise, some residents told City Council at a hearing on the spending plan awaiting approval.

“This is a tax increase – it’s just being called by a different name,” said Jim Reid, who lives near Lake Katherine.

He estimated it will cost him $50 more a year while what he called a “miniscule” property tax cut in the plan amounts to a $10 savings.

Realtor Doug Bridges warned the higher fee on power bills “is going to be injurious.”

The fee hike is an attempt to spread the cost of city services a little more on many – but not all – nonprofit and other tax-exempt parcels, Mayor Steve Benjamin said.

“I don’t think it’s a killer” for continued growth, he insisted.

The fee is estimated to produce an additional $4.7 million a year for City Hall while the tax cut is estimated to save residents and businesses $1 million overall.

City leaders touted pay raises for police and firefighters and a start on improvements to lessen pollution of area rivers from sewer spills as hallmarks of the spending plan.

Discord among council members common during development of the spending plan didn’t erupt anew during the session.

“This budget, while not perfect, is moving in the right direction,” Benjamin said.