I wonder how many fees that the city charges are not directly related to a service but instead just augment the general fund.
So far I have been able to find these:
El Paso water utilities pays the city 10% of the monies it receives from the sale of water. In the 2015 city budget the number is estimated to be $11.1 million. This is in addition to the new fee that is being charged to “non residential” customers. That fee will bring about $3.5 million to the city.
Our international bridges operate at a profit and contribute $13.6 million to the city general fund after expenses.
From what I can see in the city budget, the sanitation department will contribute $22.6 million.
They also plan to receive more than $49 million in franchise fees, which we know are passed on to the consumers.
We pay almost $16 million each year for storm water drainage, a fee that used to be part of the regular city budget.
There are probably more funds like these. Maybe our readers can help us to figure this out.
As it is the city is receiving almost $116 million that does not add to our property taxes. However it is still us providing the money. Our total property tax bill is about $228 million so the $116 million represents hidden taxes of 50%.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
The City also takes a portion of the half cent sales tax that was passed by voters to go to mass transit.
And, wherever there is a vending machine on City property, the City gets the profits.
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The City gets an “access” fee from EPE which amounts to over $5M a year… which is probably why the Sun City doesn’t do much to promote sustainable solar energy…
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Utility franchise fees for gas and electric are passed through to the ratepayers.
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Fees to park on public property which is owned and was paid for by taxpayers
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And of which a portion now goes to Woody World.
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Whoops! You said “profit” in above. Building permits, fines
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Does the “non residential user” include school districts who will now have to find a way to balance their own budget?
If you want to raise taxes at some point the voters have the right to say no. Disguise it as a user fee that is passed through and you circumvent the voters. Some user fees are voluntary ( I can choose to go to the zoo or not) but water and electricity are not.
So the city balances their budget by sending their problems to the Electric Company. They don’t care, they just pass it on. The school district will have to find a way to fix the city’s problems they just, somehow, inherited.
Come election time, council gets a pass and the voters will take it out on the school board- Oh wait! Never mind… They are no longer elected around here.
What is wrong with this picture?
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Yes, school districts will have to pay the fee. It is a flat fee per account of about $16 so the large users will barely notice it.
Brutus
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