tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post8932129814090177054..comments2024-01-28T02:25:21.094-06:00Comments on State of the Division: Water Rebate Picture Muddied by CAFRPEU Report/State of the Divisionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10269683860174947542noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21882509.post-16656750512846560712015-04-20T06:44:06.288-05:002015-04-20T06:44:06.288-05:00If everything is going properly and the rates are ...If everything is going properly and the rates are where they should be there should never be a rebate because the the income should just cover the expenses and leave, as our Mayor likes to call it, a rainy day fund to handle any unexpected problems and fluctuations in water usage caused by rain and droughts. If there is enough money in the fund balance for a rebate then we, the water customers, have given the city an interest free loan. The rates were too high for that year. The best time of year to figure out if there should be a rebate is just after the fiscal year books are closed, which puts it in November. If the end of year fund balance is above the threshold a rebate should be issued. April is a bit more of a problem but it puts the decision right before the election so any candidates have to answer to the voters on their vote.<br /><br />There are two problems with the utility bills. First question what are we paying for besides the utility product/service. We were able to eliminate PILOT, a direct money transfer into the general fund, from the water and sewer bills only to see it reincarnated in the trash and landfill payments. The upfront payment from Republic is PILOT in a new party dress and a different shade of lipstick but it's still the same old pig of adding extra fees (taxes in effect) to a service that a citizen has to buy. And it's regressive because it takes a greater portion of the income from the lowest income bracket. <br /><br />Second problem is how we spend money on water and the other utilities. Not enough money has been spent on preventive measures so far too much maintenance is put off until major, expensive, repairs are needed. <br /><br />The cost of utilities on our bill should be what it costs to provide those utilities and nothing extra. The cost of the utilities should be reduced by eliminate projects with poor return on investment a getting ahead of the maintenance curve. Of course that applies to all infrastructure, especially roads.Jim Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03413663900509725906noreply@blogger.com