By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Come Oct. 1, 2025, a number of proposed fees will likely go into effect for Copperas Cove residents and utility customers.
Last Thursday, the city’s Budget Director, Ariana Beckman, along with City Manager Ryan Haverlah, explained the proposed fee changes at a city council meeting.
Residential solid waste customers could be looking at an increase to $27.78 per month from $25.25 for collection, and commercial customers an increase to $57.87 per month, up from $52.61.
The Water & Sewer Fund budget includes rate increases for residential and commercial customers.
The proposed water volumetric rate increase per 1,000 gallons is $6.06, up from $5.21.
A proposed sewer volumetric rate increase per 1,000 gallons is $5.30, up from $5.15.
The proposed increase for residential water usage is an increase of 85 cents per 1,000 gallons used per month; sprinkler charge increase of 74 cents per 1,000 gallons; an increase of $1.04 per 1,000 gallons for commercial accounts; bulk water increase of $1.52 per 1,000 gallons; and an increase to the contractor rate of $1.27 per 1,000 gallons.
The proposed increase for the sewer volumetric rate is 15 cents per 1,000 gallons for all.
The utility rate changes are based on a previous utility rate study.
For Animal Control, adoption fees for fully vetted dogs and cats are proposed to decrease by $5 to ensure fairness for partially vetted pets.
“We currently charge $75 for fully vetted dogs and $70 for fully vetted cats,” Beckman said. “But if someone adopts a partially vetted pet and adds, for example, the chip later, they save $5. So to fix this, we’re proposing to lower those adoption fees by $5 so it’s fair for everybody.”
However, shipping costs for disease testing of animals are proposed to increase to $80 due to carrier price increases.
For the Copperas Cove Fire Department fees, non-emergency service calls are proposed to increase by $250 due to rising staff and equipment costs. Witness fees and standby time are changing to consistent hourly billing blocks and burn permit fees are increasing from $50 to $150 to cover actual labor costs.
For the Building and Developmental Services Departments, fees are proposed to increase by 2.8 percent to match inflation and the consumer price index.
Street Department after-hour fees for street services are proposed at $101.40, in addition to existing street cut fees. Subdivision signage fees are proposed at $110 for a combination of signs, with specific fees for stop signs and speed limit signs.
A restoration fee is proposed to be added to adult sports fees in the Parks and Recreation Department.
For the Golf Course, golf lessons are proposed to be added, with a single lesson fee of $50 and a package deal for five lessons at $185.
The proposed fee changes will not be voted upon by the city council until the August _ meeting, when the city budget will be officially adopted for 2025-2026 fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1.
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