TARRANT, Ala. (WIAT) -- The Tarrant City Council will vote Monday night regarding whether to give Tarrant Electric customers a $75 electric bill credit.
The proposal from Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton hopes to offset the cost of inflation and the holiday season. Some in the community are concerned about the amount of the credit and how much it will cost the city.
The proposal, posted to social media, would use a portion of the $4 million surplus from Tarrant Electric to offset the cost of customers’ bills. If passed, each customer would immediately receive a $75 bill credit.
How much does that add up to? It is unknown, as neither the City of Tarrant nor Tarrant Electric could provide CBS 42 with the number of customers it serves.
“I think it will help a lot of people, but I am wondering what the total cost is going to be,” said James Franklin, a Tarrant resident.
Franklin remembers times in the past where the city had to make infrastructure upgrades. He believes Tarrant should be cautious with spending a large sum of money.
“Given some previous things that have happened, weather things, and that kind of thing, we really do need a reserve fund in case something happens that is serious,” Franklin said.
Another Tarrant resident, James Brown, said he supports the proposed bill credit completely.
“It would be nice," Brown said. "A lot of people could use it."
According to Newton, the bill will go up for a vote Monday night at Tarrant’s city council meeting. Brown said he is not hopeful it will pass.
“They do more arguing with each other down there at these council meetings then anything," Brown said. "$75 dollars it might help some people, but some people it's not going to do anything for."
The council meeting is set to get started at 7 p.m.