HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem K a
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ember 13, 1999
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor Yost and Members of the City Council
FROM: Keith R. Till, City Manager
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR UTILITY USERS TAX
AND FRANCHISE FEE AGREEMENT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST: /
Approve an agreement with (contractor)to audit the utility users tax and
franchise fee calculations for utility companies and City franchise holders and authorize the city
manager to execute the agreement.
DISCUSSION: -
The utility users tax is the single most significant source of revenue in the general fund, making
up almost 30%of the City's annual income. After reaching a peak in 1996, the utility users tax
has been on a decline. It is anticipated it will be down about 10%from 1996. Part can be
explained by the decrease in electricity rates after de-regulation. But that should not have
accounted for such a steep reduction. One suspect area is in telephone billing, particularly
mobile phones. Utility companies and franchisees also make errors and report revenue
belonging to the wrong city. This audit provides for a review of electric, gas and phone 4 J
companies compliance with the utility users tax ordinance to ensure it has been applied and 61/100.1'
212-11
calculated correctly and coded for all customers inside the City limits. Additionally, will
audit franchisee's performance against the franchise requirements to ensure all franchise fee
payments have been calculated correctly, all revenue sources are included in the City's franchise
payment base and the customers are correctly coded inside the City limits.
FISCAL IMPACT: Nof /A2J S Z A4l' 6
Utility user tax and franchise payment recovery is indeterminate; however, a.repo d
recommendation will be issued at the conclusion of the audit. 7. , ill receive
25% of all new utility users and/or franchise tax revenues received by the City as a result of audit
and recovery work. The City shall have no obligation to pay the audit fees unless and until it
receives refunds and/or credits.
Agenda Item K
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x13, 1999
/ /Users
Tax& Franchise Fee Agreement
2 RECOMMENDATION:
,.'
motion
it
authorizing the utility users tax and franchise fee audit provided by
Council to approve a �LL� eedepe., ..
/s..........„.__
Keith R. Till
City Manager
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