According to Monticello Mayor Jason Akers, many Monticello residents who are city water customers saw a reduced water bill this month. 

Last year, the mayor and the city water department proposed to the city council that those who have consistently paid their water bill on time for a period of 12 months should be entitled to their deposit being given back to the customer in the form of being utilized to offset the customers water bill. Criteria for a reduced bill was that a customer pay on time for a year and at the end of the year, the water deposit may be applied towards the customers regular monthly bill. The council approved the act as presented by the Mayor and Water Department Manager. 

The city currently has over $300,000 in water deposit funds in various CD’s and checking accounts that cannot be used for any purpose. Many of these deposits date back decades, and the city has to pay to have them audited.  

“There is no point in the City just hanging on for decades to money that belongs to our citizens. Applying these funds to city customers is our way of rewarding responsible customers who consistently pay on time. It’s taking money out of governments hands and putting it back in the pockets of our people.”