The council dealt with issues regarding fees, taxes and project funding at its regular business meeting last night.

The council revisited a measure establishing road restoration fees for utlities that cut into public roads and sidewalks. It passed on a 4-3 and goes into effect in August.

The council also voted to delay a proposal by councilman Rick Ensey to cut Yakima's utility tax from six per cent to four per cent, a move that would return about four dollars a month to city rate payers, with a loss of revenue to the city of approximately $800,000 annually. After debate, the council voted 4-3 to delay any such measure until a public hearing on possible budget cuts made necessary by Ensey's proposal could be held.

The council also directed staff to develop a plan to obtain bonds to fund a portion of the North First Street improvement project. The city recently learned that $2.6 million in federal funds for the first phase of the project would be delayed until 2016. The project is scheduled to start in 2015.

 

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