City Attorney Gilbert Chichester said following tonight’s city council meeting the company claims it faces competition from satellite providers like DIRECTV and Dish Network.
The move, if approved by the FCC, essentially would allow the company to increase rates, Chichester said.
“The idea is to allow them to increase their rates,” City Manager Paul Sabiston told council.
Sabiston said council could send a letter to the FCC stating it disagreed with the company and believes there is a noncompetitive environment in the city.
“I’d like for council to go on record opposing any kind of increase,” Mayor D.N. Beale said.
Councilman Carl Ferebee made the motion and Councilman Jon Baker cast a second. The motion passed unanimously.
In other matters tonight, Sabiston told council he hoped to have a proposal for a fitness center at T.J. Davis Recreation Center by its November meeting. “We’re trying to put together a pretty good packet,” he said.
He said the proposal administrative staff is working on would allow the city to buy the equipment and make some revenue. “I think the risk is very low.”
Council also heard a report from Finance Director MeLinda Hite, who told the panel the following:
• For the period ending Sept. 30, year-to-date revenues exceeded expenditures by $2,478,090.
• Fifty-two percent of the 2009 property taxes have been collected.
• Eighty-seven percent of delinquent taxes have been collected.
• Comparing budget to actual expenditures for the first quarter, the general fund is 24.55 percent.
Sabiston noted in his report preliminary audit numbers indicate the city, as of June 30, will have a total fund balance of $3.7 million, including an undesignated fund balance of $2,478,090. “This is primarily a result of the large ad valorem tax revenues that are collected during this time of the fiscal year,” he wrote in the document.
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