Board could pull Branson businesses’ utility discount

At its Oct. 10 meeting, the board approved a first reading of a bill that eliminates a discount on winter sewer and water rates for businesses that close for the winter.

Currently, qualified businesses pay 76 cents per every 1,000 gallons of water used after a minimum of 2,000 gallons paid at the base rate. The bill proposes an increase of 77 cents to a rate of $1.55 per 1,000 gallons.

For sewer rates, the discount allows business owners to pay $1.55 per 1,000 gallon after a 2,000 gallon base rate. Removing the discount will bring their cost to $2.32, an increase of 88 cents, per 1,000 gallons.

The city’s cost of providing services increases in the winter because of lower water usage. Removing the discount would provide an additional $400,000 in revenue for the city, said Jerry Adams, public information director for Branson.

In other business, the board gave final approval on an ordinance granting $25,000 to Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce from the city’s marketing contingency fund.

The chamber will use the money to hang holiday lights on utility poles along Highway 76. Until this year, holiday lighting was paid for with revenue from the annual Festival of Lights drive-through that was canceled because of Branson Hills Plaza’s growth.

The board also gave final approval on an ordinance to renew the third and final year of a $35,000 agreement with the city’s Jefferson City lobbyist Rodney Gray.

A resolution in support of developing affordable rental housing also was approved by the board. The resolution allows developer Rick Huffman to apply for state tax credits for his 110-unit apartment complex along Highway 248 near Shepherd of the Hills Expressway.

Huffman also heads the $420 million Branson Landing project.