City of Chico “Chief Administrative Officer” Scott Dowell finally gave Presson an answer to my question – how much money does the city of Chico receive in franchise fees from PG&E.
I had found an article from Ch 7 news in Redding:
http://krcrtv.com/archive/pge-pays-millions-to-northstate-counties
detailing payments to Chico, Butte County, and other local cities and counties, it reported a much larger figure – in fact, three figures that added up to over a million dollars for fiscal year 2011-12.
Chico$ 407,735.25 $ 201,282.46 $ 609,017.71
Dowell came back to me with $690,768.
Hmmm. Not sure what to think, I responded with the figures from Ch 7 and asked him where I could find this information in the budget.
Look Scott, I’m not calling you a liar, I’m just asking, why the difference in figures? Maybe he’ll come back and tell me how these franchise fees are based. The article indicates local agencies collect more in franchise fees every year, but maybe that was some kind of sunset thing, and the sun went down on it. I’m willing to give a person the benefit of the doubt.
Gee willikers – maybe Ch 7 screwed up and gave three years’ figures?
We’ll see what he says – I’m not expecting an answer before next Tuesday.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Knowing the way the media works and the way city government works I would be shocked if they gave you the same answer.
Ask PG&E. They ought to know and knowing the way a monopoly like PG&E works I bet you get an answer from them that’s different from the city and KRCR!
And I bet none of them will give a fig about the discrepancies because it’s not like the rate payers can refuse to pay whatever is on their bill even if no one is keeping track of the money.
But this needs to be exposed so it is great that you are pursuing it.
I finally got an answer – after running around the internet a few times. While the city isn’t getting exactly as much as I thought, they’re getting plenty in hidden taxes, and we need to make sure this is brought into the sales tax increase conversation.