By LYNETTE SOWELL-STEVENS
Cove Leader-Press
During the Tuesday, Sept. 1 Copperas Cove city council meeting, on the agenda is setting the fee schedule for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2026.
The proposed fee schedule includes increases to water, sewer, drainage, and solid waste fees and rates, across the board for all customers.
For example, the residential base water fee is presently $30.30 per month, and with the new fee schedule, would go up to $34.55 per month.
Residential water use rates for the first 5,000 gallons would increase from $6.06 to $6.91 per 1,000 gallons, while higher usage tiers would also see increases.
Residential drainage fees would increase from $10 to $11 per month, and the minimum sewer rate would increase from $21.86 to $22.52.
The sewer base rate and sewer volumetric rate likewise have proposed increases, from $21.86 to $22.52, and from $5.30 to $5.46 per 1,000 gallons, respectively.
Solid waste collection rates would also increase. The monthly fee for residential trash collection for single-family homes would rise from $27.78 to $30.56.
Several other fees, including bulky item collection, recycling contamination fee, and dumpster services, would also increase.
With the City's Code Compliance Department, the annual health inspection fee for businesses would increase from $100 to $260.
The annual inspection fee for nonprofit organizations would increase from $50 to $130.
The annual health permit late fee would increase from $30 to $50, and the permit reinstatement fee would increase from $200 to $1,000.
Within the Fire Department, licensed facility inspection fees would increase, and the annual permit for mobile food vehicles and trailers would rise from $50 to $150.
Parks and Recreation changes include eliminating some half-day tournament rental options while reducing the full-day tournament field rental fee from $195 to $150 and lowering the vendor fee from $75 to $50.
There is also a lineup of fee changes within the Development Services Department.
The full draft of the fee schedule with all proposed changes can be viewed at https://public.destinyhosted.com/coppedocs/2026/CCSCW/20260625_2354/13432_00._FY_2026-27_Fee_Schedule_Proposed_06252026.pdf.
The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at the Technology Center at 508 S. 2nd St. It will be also streamed and recorded on the City’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@copperascove6513.
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