User-fee proposal in Campbell is sent to committee

STAFF REPORT

CAMPBELL — Council’s research into charging a streetlight user-fee is on a back burner, said council member Bryan Tedesco.

Tedesco and council president William Vansuch said Tuesday that a discussion during Mayor George Krinos’ town meeting Monday was a heads-up for residents to let them know the proposal was being considered.

But, Tedesco said, he no longer sees a need right now for the fee, which would have added $2.30 a month to water bills.

The revenue generated by the fee would be used only for streetlights, which cost the city $120,000 a year out of the general fund, Tedesco said.

Tedesco said the idea is not dead. It is in committee, he said, and it may never come out. “We have a balanced budget,” he said.

Tedesco said council was considering the fee among other ways to raise more revenue to help wipe out a $463,000 deficit.

But the state, which oversees Campbell’s finances because it is in fiscal emergency, said a combination of cuts, savings and increased estimated revenues was enough to balance the budget. “Once we got the budget balanced, why have a user-fee for streetlights?” Tedesco asked.