Water Rates Increase - Necessary or Not?
The City Council voted unanimously to raise both water and sewer rates 5% at the September 12 meeting. Was it really necessary for the City to raise rates for water and sewer? Let's look at the facts, then you be the judge.
First of all, the city made a profit of over half a million dollars on the water and sewer operation last year. That means after all expenses were paid the city had that much net income from the water and sewer services.
Second, with the natural gas income, the city has the option to use that money to replace an aging infrastructure.
Third, we already pay more than the average rates for other cities our size.
Fourth, the quality of water is not good. The water that comes out of the tap tastes and smells bad. I buy purified water for drinking and cooking.
Fifth, the rate increase penalizes poor people and those on fixed incomes more than well-to-do people and industrial users. Everyone has to use water, and those who use the least pay the most per gallon.
A chart of average water rates grouped by population was provided by city staff to the council for use in considering the rate increase. Cleburne falls in the 25-30,000 population group. Using that chart and my water bills at my house and store, I calculated the price per gallon at different usage rates.
At the store the bill shows 2,000 gallons usage per month. That is where many one and two-person fixed-income households will be. At that usage rate we pay 0.939 cents per gallon. The average for cities our size is 0.490 cents per gallon. Cleburne is 92% higher than the average at that usage rate.
At home I have watered the yard because of the drouth. I used 20,000 gallons per month. I paid 0.433 cents per gallon, while the average is 0.387 cents. At this usage rate, Cleburne is 12% higher than the average city of its size.
At the high usage level, the gas well drilling companies pay 0.224 cents per gallon. The average is 0.316 cents. The gas companies are paying 41% below the average.
What's wrong with this picture? Lots. The city is overcharging homeowners, especially small households on fixed incomes. The big gas companies are getting a break at the expense of homeowners. The small household owner pays 92% above average, while the big gas companies pay 41% below average.
City staff and the council should have worked to eliminate this inequity. Their failure to do so illustrates their disdain for Cleburne citizens.
Some council members keep reminding me that the foresight of previous councils made it possible for Cleburne to have an ample supply of water and no water rationing. They are right, but that in no way justifies the present council's action in establishing an inequitable rate structure that penalizes those who can least afford to pay.
The gas companies can afford to pay a fair price for the water they use, and they should be charged a fair price. The City Council would not have needed to raise rates if they had corrected this inequity.
This bad council decision directly impacts you.
Alden Nellis