CREVE COEUR UTILITY TAX REDUCTION.....BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE

Councilperson Rhoades (Ward IV) has proposed a 1.5% Reduction in the RESIDENTIAL electric Creve Coeur utility tax rate to 5.5% from 7%

This sounds like a lot but it does NOT include:
Commercial electric rates (73% of the Electric Utility Tax)
Gas Utilty Taxes (Including the Laclede Gas Rate increase currently before the MPUC)
Water Utility Taxes
Phone utility Taxes.

In 2004 according to the CC Finance Director the City received a total of RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL electric utility taxes of $1,347,929
In 2013 just ten years later the Finance Director states the City will receive a total of Residential and Commeercial electric utility taxes of $3,096,247.
That is an average increase of $174,848 per year without a vote of the taxpayers!!
The Director of Finance notes that the proposed reduction will reduce the electric utility revenues by $186,312 per year.
While the City Council has no problem raising the personnel salaries AND benefits 5.3% this year and spending $130,000 for an air conditioned Dozer Loader last year for the Public Works Department; giving the taxpayers back $186,000 is A BIG DEAL!!!
Considering we are talking about a little over 1% of the $16,241,387 in expected City 2013 Revenues it ain't much but:
IT IS BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE!!
This is why I have been quoted as giving three positive ARFS for the Council throwing the citizens this bone!!!

R. W. Kent
If you Agree with me tell your Council person to vote Aye, if you do not get your pen out to pay more for your Laclede Gas bill when the increase is approved by the MPUC.