Murfreesboro’s City Council voted to temporarily lower the fee charged to connect to water and sewer service. City officials proposed the $1,000 reduction at the request of home builders, who hope the lower cost will help spur more construction.
Building permits in Murfreesboro have dropped dramatically in the last decade, with only three hundred issued last year. The city issued five times that amount before the economic downturn.
The council approved the one-year fee reduction by a wide margin Thursday night. Murfreesboro Water Director Joe Kirchner says it will cost the city $300,000 in revenue, However, he says that’s a small price to pay if it generates any construction jobs.
“I know there were a lot of people at these meetings that were these skilled craftsmen [and] plumbers that were very appreciative of it because they’ve been out of work.”
Kirchner says the fees will revert back to the higher level in March of 2012 – unless the council approves an extension.
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