Politics
Mentone Municipal Fee Structure Update Differs From Neighboring Cities
Mentone households face revised monthly charges for waste and water services under the 2026 local government fee policy adopted by the city council.
How we reported this
The Mentone City Council passed the updated Municipal Services Fee Ordinance on July 6, which revises charges for residential waste collection and water usage effective September 1. The policy applies to all 18,400 households within city limits and sets tiered rates based on property size and consumption levels.
The change follows the release of the 2026 Mentone Municipal Budget on June 15, which projected a $1.8 million shortfall in utility operations due to increased contractor costs. Local government officials stated the ordinance aligns fees more closely with actual service expenses while maintaining the existing revenue cap set by the 2024 fiscal ordinance.
How Mentone's Approach Compares
Under the new structure Mentone charges $28 per month for standard waste service on lots under 6,000 square feet, while the city of Riverton applies a flat $32 rate and the town of Clearwater uses volume-based billing that averages $25 for similar properties. Policy analysts note these differences stem from Mentone's decision to retain a single hauler contract rather than adopt the multi-vendor model used in Riverton.
Residents on lots larger than 10,000 square feet will see an additional $6 monthly surcharge for extra bin capacity. The ordinance states that water rates increase by 4 percent for usage above 5,000 gallons per month, a threshold that covers roughly 22 percent of accounts according to the 2025 utility usage report. Local advocates note the tier applies only inside city boundaries and does not affect customers served by the regional water authority.
The 2026 Mentone Municipal Budget allocates $420,000 from the new fees toward fleet replacement for sanitation vehicles, with the first purchases scheduled for the fourth quarter. The legislation requires quarterly public reports on revenue collection and service metrics beginning in October.
City staff will mail individual rate notices to all accounts by August 15. Residents may request a one-time adjustment review by submitting lot-size documentation before October 1, after which the rates lock for the remainder of the fiscal year.