Lewiston voters will question transfer of excess funds in November | News

A proposed initiative was filed Monday morning to reverse a decision to transfer $800,000 from Lewiston’s Sanitation Fund to the Library Capital Fund. The petitioning group, Citizens for Funding Accountability say the city council’s decision in March to transfer the excess funds means citizens were overcharged on their sewer bills.

During the March 12 council meeting, Mayor Poole said there were more savings than anticipated in the Sanitation account due to contract management. The resolution was approved 4-3.

Members of the opposing citizen’s group say they want the money from the Sanitation Fund to stay in that account or the city should refund the money to voters and lower sewer rates. And in the future, if the initiative is approved by voters in November, any excess funds will be returned to the taxpayer except in an emergency.

The Nez Perce Auditor’s Office certified the proposed initiative on Tuesday meaning it will end up on the November ballot barring any legal action. County Clerk Patty Weeks says of the 623 signatures turned in on Monday, 557 qualified. The group only needed 374 signatures in order to successfully be placed on the ballot.