OTTAWA — City sewer bills could increase as city commissioners look for ways to cut a proposed property tax increase for next year. Ottawa faces the prospect of paying about $230,000 to certify that the city’s levee system is safe. City finance director Scott Bird said the city must meet the new federal rule or see many downtown businesses and residents pay for expensive flood insurance. Half of the cost will be picked up from the city’s savings from refinancing a series of general-obligation bonds. Bird said the remaining cost of the certification would be one and a half mills more in property taxes. Instead, commissioners are looking at a variety of ways to avoid that property tax increase and one is a $1.50 monthly surcharge on sewer bills. Bird said if the city adopts the sewer surcharge, it would be in effect for 13 months. Bird said that even with the surcharge, the city’s property taxes could increase by a little more than one mill for next year.
Thursday, July 15, 7 a.m.
