Louisville proposes 2027 fee changes, including higher police rates and library late-fee removal
The proposed schedule covers about 299 city fees, with many tied to a 3.9% regional inflation adjustment and targeted changes to police, library and utility charges.
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Louisville staff have proposed a 2027 fee schedule that would raise extra-duty police rates by about 25%, remove library borrowing late fees from the fee schedule and eliminate after-hours utility reconnection charges. The proposal covers about 299 fees; staff propose a 3.9% inflation adjustment for many, while others would stay at 2026 levels or change for specific reasons.
The staff presentation says 180 fees would be adjusted for inflation, 104 would remain at 2026 levels and 13 would be changed or eliminated through other methods. The 3.9% adjustment is based on the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood regional Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in July 2026. Staff also propose increases to about 45 land-development and zoning fees.
The proposed hourly rate for an extra-duty police officer would rise from $84 to $105, and the supervisor rate from $103 to $128. Staff say the rates are intended to account for city costs, including retirement and payroll-tax expenses.
The schedule would remove library borrowing late fees, which have been waived since the pandemic; the waiver was extended after the Marshall Fire, the presentation says. It would also eliminate after-hours utility reconnection charges, now listed as $50 for a first occurrence, $70 for a second and $100 for subsequent occurrences. Staff cited the difficulty of coordinating after-hours work and a two-hour overtime minimum. The presentation says customers can have service reconnected the next business day; regular-hours reconnection fees would remain.
Most recreation and senior-center fees would rise 3% for Louisville residents and 7% for nonresidents. Some program fees, including child care and aquatics, would rise 4%, staff said.
The proposed fee schedule lists Jan. 1, 2027, as the proposed effective date. The Finance Committee was scheduled to review the proposal Oct. 15. Its staff report describes the item as “Direction / Discussion,” with members to consider the proposed adjustments or suggest changes. The meeting packet planned a presentation to the full City Council on Nov. 2.