Proposed water rate change upsets residents
A proposed city water rate change upset many residents. They said they’re being charged for something they’ve already paid for.
Residents packed out Thursday’s city council meeting to voice their concerns. They said they were being robbed with the proposed water rate change.
Alex Perrone said, “You guys need to look at this plan and not just come with your allocations. For example, the 1,000 cubic feet when we’re accustomed to 3,000 cubic feet.”
Joong Kim said, “I don’t understand why city council insists to do it, somebody gets the benefit out of it? I don’t know. But they try to convince us to accept it.”
City officials said they needed the money the change would bring to improve the aging water treatment facility. Residents didn’t accept that explanation or reason behind the rate change.
“You guys haven’t given us any information like you said last week, we’re going to inform you. You’re supposed to look into my situation. I never got a comment or a call or anything. We still haven’t received any paperwork,” Abudo Rodriguez said.
“The people that are paying about a hundred bucks a month will be paying maybe $170 or maybe even $200,” Perrone said.
The new rate would go from charging people a flat $100 per month to actual water usage, which residents said was actually an increase for the majority of them.
Eligio Alvarez said, “I’m against. And I’m pretty sure all these people are against it.”
City council member said they believe previous council administrations had robbed residents but they were asking for a chance to deliver what they were promising to accomplish through the proposed change.
Residents didn’t relent. They demanded that city council held off on the vote until they had more information.
“It’s ludicrous. And hold on to the approval of the raising of the rates until we all are informed. Everyone. All of you up here and all of us over here because we need the true story,” Dr. Leticia Cota said.
After much heated discussion, city council chose not to vote on the proposed water rate change. They said they would look for other options, instead. They promised to keep the public informed, which was something the public had been demanding from the beginning.
