Revenue projected to increase

RITZVILLE – Clerk-Treasurer Julie Flyckt presented a memo outlining 2022 projected revenue during the Oct. 5 City Council meeting.

The 2022 budget year is expected to be a combination of increased and decreased revenue, resulting in an estimated 2% increase from 2021.

Real-estate sales in the city have increased, resulting in additional excise taxes being collected, she said. The median home sale price in Ritzville is $160,000.

Revenue from the excise taxes are deposited to the Capital Improvement Fund.

The city has approximately $70,000 in unpaid utility bills, due to the governor’s pandemic-related moratorium preventing utilities from shutting off utility customers or charging late fees for non-payment. According to Flyckt, some utility accounts are nearly $3,000 in arrears.

The moratorium is ending and customers owing back bills must begin paying on current charges and make arrangements for repayment of past due balances.

In other business, on a relatively light agenda, the council:

Approved pay estimate No. 4 in the amount of $136,792.56 to POW Contracting for the Pete’s Lift Station and Sewer Improvement Project.

Approved pay estimate No. 2 to Precision Paving Plus in the amount of $93,007.71 for the Weber Road and Galbreath Way Project.

Accepted license agreements with Big Bend Electric Corp. and Avista Utilities for use of utility poles in preparation for submitting grant applications for funding a broadband infrastructure project in the city.