ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph city council is considering a new way to pay for the city's street lights.  They are looking at switching to a street light utility fee.

City Administrator Judy Weyrens says it's a more fair way of charging for street lights because all properties would pay, not just the ones that pay property taxes.

However, Weyrens says it's not clear yet if you are charged a street light utility fee if your property taxes will go down an equal amount.  She says that depends on whether the council decides to vote to lower the city's budget by an equal amount.

Right now St. Joseph spends $51,000 a year on street lighting.  If they don't lower the budget, they'll use that money on other city services.  The council will discuss the issue at their regular council meeting on Thursday.

St. Cloud implemented a similar street lighting fee in 2011.

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