BEDFORD – The Bedford City Council approved the change in water rates and charges following the repeal of the Utility Receipts Tax on July 1, 2022.
The utility receipt tax sat at 1.4% that was imposed on the taxable gross receipts of customers providing the retail sale of utility services for the taxable year for their services. With the tax being repealed, the rates per customer would need to be adjusted thoroughly.
As a response to this, the city has approved a change in water rates and charges, to reflect what customers had already been paying. Due to city ordinances, rates will remain the same for customers. The city wants to remind community members that this will not increase their payments, as it will still charge each customer the same amount they already paid previous to the repeal.
City Council member Brad Bough asked what would happen if this could cause individuals to not have the opportunity to maintain their bills and pay them promptly. Bedford Utilities Director Misty Adams shared that there are multiple services for customers to have assistance in paying their bills, and that community members just need to ask who to contact and they will direct them accordingly.
