City Proposes Water-Rate Increase
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Water-Rate Increase
The city of Columbus wants to increase water rates by almost 5 percent.
NBC 4
If city officials get their way, you will pay 4.89 percent more on your water bill by next year.
Published: August 19, 2009
Updated: August 20, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—City residents soon could be paying more for water. The city of Columbus wants to increase water rates by almost 5 percent.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
If a new proposal were to pass, the average customer would pay approximately $40 more a year on his or her water bill with the proposed 4.89 percent increase.
Why is the increase necessary, though, since voters recently approved a half-percent income-tax hike?
There are federally mandated projects that cost millions, and the increased revenue would keep the projects running smoothly and the city’s water clean, according to Columbus’ Department of Public Utilities spokesperson George Zonders.
Specifically, projects include major upgrades to the Hap Cremean and Dublin Road water-treatment plants and technology upgrades to the Jackson Pike and Southerly wastewater treatment facilities.
NBC 4 asked how the city could justify a proposed water-rate increase weeks after a vote for an income-tax increase.
“Well, the income-tax increase and the rate increase for public utilities are two different things. We’re obviously not happy needing an increase. We have a lot of things we’re required to do, but the economy is bad. We know that,” Zonders said.
The city’s Sewer and Water Advisory Board was expected to vote on the proposed increase by the end of the month.
Columbus city council will hold public hearings on the proposal and possibly vote on the proposed increase in November.
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Reader Reactions
“They are refering to other increases to justify their thoughts.“
Okay, let me put it this way. I’M BROKE. With all the increases that have happened combined with the economy tanking the way it did, I’m broke. I pay my bills on time but have nothing left over to go to the movies or take a friend out to eat. I don’t have any more to give.
“It says these are federally mandated projects that need to be done. We see more and more of this on a daily basis.“
Last time I looked at my water bill they were charging for rain hitting my roof. That’s for the clean river fund. There is a separate charge for stormwater charges, another charge for sewer and then finally for water itself.
The clean river fund IS a federally mandated project fund but why any of us should be charged because it rains, I don’t know, but we are! The the greater the square footage of your roof, the more you are charged.
Thank God my house has a very small footprint!
I simply have no more to give.
I dont know if I fully blame the city on this one. It says these are federally mandated projects that need to be done. We see more and more of this on a daily basis. There seems to be a lot of state and federally mandated projects that dont receive state or federal money, yet must be completed. I am all for protecting the environment and using common sense, but this whole going green movement and the latest crackdown by the EPA is getting out of hand. Going green seems to mean watching your “green go”.
the unexperienced will most likely never understand.
Thanks to the cursed fascist that deleted my post.
What does what I say have to do with tax increases? HMM. Let me think. Well a population that is already broke, being fleeced until there is no recourse without governemnt aids. Hmm. It reminds me of that one country that had that terrorist group. What were they called? Oh right, Nazis. The German country collapsed and Hitler was handpicked by the Rothschild family (you know the ones that own Chase Manhattan and use a swastica for their logo? Even introduced him to banker Prescott Bush and GMC so they could build hummers for the nazis. Hitler was there to save the day on the exact circumstance that is coming here except this time will be globally.
Socialism is communism and it’s coming for you america! Fascists NBC doesn’t want you to know the truth. Instead they feed you meaningless rhetoric, descensitizing you to their agenda of filling you with fear, negativity and acceptance of the coming slave state. Do not fault me because you lack understanding in the many available truths out here.
Plato -“He who tells the truth is at once called a lunatic and a fool.“
Umm, I have yet to read a comment on here that has nothing to do with people experssing themselves in regards to the water increase. They are refering to other increases to justify their thoughts.
Hopefully this increase will be able to voted upon and we can show how most of us feel about it.
Also, I have a question asking for an explanation from THEYRLYINGTOYOU. Exactly what does any of what you posted have to do with a water charge increase?
m’kay there - those of us without tin foil hats and actually have to live and earn a living in this city care about this stuff, but lets not go over board. This is about what I think is an unnecessary increase on a utility we all need…not the institution of a “new world order” or the forefront of a communist takeover by the government.
lol! wow….
CHICO: Our household income is almost half of what is was 5 years ago! How are we to sustain this ever growing greed? Insurance is no longer contributed to by our employer,401ks not contributed to, and due to lay offs a doubling of responsibilities,while accepting PAY CUTS. For everyone,but those whose salaries we taxpayers pay…where’s the fairness in that.Taxation without representation!
I agr3ee. It amazes me that they are able to do this while we have no competitive companies to switch services too. Feels like a violation to me. We got suckered into issue one and now they are going to bleed us dry. Isn’t it amazing how they expect for us to fit this crap into our budget, yet fail to budget all the monies that we provide for them. hmmmm.
YOU KNOW I REALLY DON’T THINK UTILITY COMPANIES SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR RATES OVER WHAT AN AVERAGE PERSON GETS IN THEIR YEARLY RAISE. I GOT A WHOPPING 39 CENT RAISE AND AN EXTRA $15. A MONTH TAKEN OUT FOR INSURANCE.
THE ELECTRIC COMPANY AND NOW THE WATER COMPANY AND CITY TAXES HAVE MADE IT SO
I NOW HAVE A PAY DECREASE.
I HAVEN’T HAD AN ACTUAL RAISE IN 5 YRS
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