Town explains utility tax increase

REARDAN —In order to offset an expected shortfall in revenue that town officials said would adversely affect basic town service levels, the Town Council implemented a utility tax that will increase resident’s utility bills by $66 per month at the end of 2023.

On Dec. 22, the Town sent a letter to all of its residents informing them of the increase.

The letter, signed by Mayor Gail Daniels and councilmembers Rocky Kidder, Celeste Lewis, Clay Soliday, Dan Graham and Leanne Merkel stated the town had not increased utility rates since 2018, and that the shortfall in revenue resulted from its limit...