Dear City of Salmon residents.
The City of Salmon would like to provide our constituents some clarity regarding the increased water shut-off fee:
Each year before the City’s fiscal year starts, a public hearing is held to review the budget and any updates to the fee schedule. This year’s public hearing was held on July 17th 2024, and it was voted by City Council that the water shut off fee would be raised and amended to a $75 administration fee for customers who fail to pay their utility bills after being 2 Months delinquent. The City of Salmon does not charge for being 1 month behind, or 1 day behind.
This particular fee was increased due to the amount of customers that were not paying their utility bill on a regular basis and needed to be shut off for being 2 months delinquent. Shutting off water to a location puts extra stress on our public works crew, who spend unnecessary amounts of time turning meters on and off on a frequent basis resulting in damage to the meters. The City then incurs a large cost to fix the meter including additional public works crew labor, which is ultimately passed on to the City tax payers. There are customers who have, in some cases, been two months delinquent on payments over 100 times, resulting in constant wear and tear on the meters.
City staff always takes into consideration customers who may be unable to pay the full amount due to hardship or special circumstances, and the staff always does our best to ensure that their water remains on.
Finally, the City staff is always available to answer questions, and the City is here to provide a service and give accurate information. The City of Salmon encourages the public to engage with City staff at City Hall to get the most reliable and up-to-date information.
Thank you
Mayor Todd Nelson