The City of Longview is changing how it bills some residents for water, sewer, and stormwater services.

Starting next year, all utility customers will receive monthly bills instead of the current every-other-month system that some residents are on.

Councilmember Mike Claxton said the hope is this will help residents living paycheck to paycheck better budget. Monthly billing means residents won’t face the financial shock of a two-month bill. It also allows customers to catch water leaks sooner, potentially avoiding thousand-dollar surprises.

The city will need to hire one additional billing clerk and invest in software updates. The total annual cost is roughly $99,000 per year, but the city says utilities can cover it.

The transition begins later this year, with full implementation by January 1st.