I guess the city council has found their new cash cow. What's this? The 3rd or 4th rate increase in about 18 months?

Didn't they just raise the rates to pay for "technology upgrades" at the wastewater treatment plant? I guess we can look for rate increases every 9 months or so from now on.



04/02/2008
Hagerstown water rates could go up
$163.3 million budget proposal presented to City Council
By DAN DEARTH
dan.dearth@herald-mail.com

HAGERSTOWN — Customers of the City of Hagerstown's water and wastewater services could see an increase in user fees, City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman told the City Council on Tuesday.


The announcement was part of Zimmerman's 30-minute presentation to the council that pointed out highlights of the city's proposed $163.3 million budget for Fiscal Year 2008-09.


If the council approves the budget later this year, the rates for water and wastewater would increase about $4.01 per quarter for customers who live inside the city and roughly $8.54 per quarter for out-of-town customers, Zimmerman said.


Those rates are based on 13,000 gallons of usage.


He said the rate increase, among other things, would help pay for technology upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant.


The proposed budget also calls for hiring two police officers and maintaining the property tax rate at 79.8 cents per every $100 of assessed value.


Zimmerman said the proposed budget is about a 3.5 percent increase over the $157.8 million budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08.


Other highlights included brief discussions on the following capital improvement projects:


· Eastern Boulevard widening


· Jonathan Street reconstruction project


· New West End water storage facilities


· Upgrade at the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Dual Highway

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaysto...amp;format=html

And the Fantom strikes again. I can hear it now. Why are they raising my rent again?
You can`t get blood out of a turnip Mr. Zimmerman.

Come on McGee don't you know all landlords are rich, if you don't believe me just ask Penny.

Penny whoooo ?

Meh. $4 a quarter? No big deal. Sounds like it's just being adjusted for inflation.

Speaking of inflation, the current inflation rate is around 4%. This budget is up 3.5% from last year. Sounds like a pretty reasonable deal to me.

What you failed to take into account, this is the 3rd or 4th increase in less than 18 months. So it's not a mere $4 a quarter. Over that period of time the rates have risen in excess of 20 to 40 dollars (approximately) per quarter.

Like I said, the City has discovered their new cash cow.

This increase will be the same for business too?? Like a good restaurant that washes its dishes? Using water right? How does that reflect on helping encourage someone to move downtown. be locked into rising fees..... Good incentive there....

I think a good idea would be to double the property tax on people who do not live in Md.
Wv. dose this to property owners who do not live in that state. It works for them. JMO.

Bleed us dry. Do these people just sit around all day figuring out how to get more money out of us. It seems that way to me!

There are actually people dumb enough to admit they don't live in WV and allow their property taxes to be doubled? Last time I checked, you didn't even need a physical address to get a driver's license in WV (you could use a P.O. box). It shouldn't be that hard to come up with some address in WV.

I realize that this is a forum for people to sound off on subjects that they believe are to become in fact true events.
I love the HM, instead of putting the "No tax increase" in the headline, which of course would probably not be as interesting, they put that water/sewer rates would increase. Then, in the middle of the article talk about the no tax increase.

Just because something is submitted in the budget, that does not make it so. There is no, "let it be writen, let it be done" or what ever the bald headed guy says in the 10 commandments movie with Charlton Heston.

We are already in the process, some of us, to look at ways to not increase any fees this year. I think about the retired individual, who 40 years ago planned out his retirement and figured he would be fine for the remainder of his years, however long or short that would be. Now, with the increases in everything from gas to bread, this same person is scraping to stay afloat, pay his utilities, eat, buy medicine and maybe, just maybe, be able to have a little to enjoy life on.

Every increase, be it in taxes or rates and fees, have a direct impact on these retired individuals that are much more harsh than on the rest of us working poor.

So, before you go believing what you read in the HM, although true about it being in the PROPOSED budget at this time, give some of us a chance to make the adjustments to relieve our constituents. As my daddy always said, "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear".

In other words, don't speak out against bad things that have been proposed. Just keep your mouths shut, sit back and let big brother take care of it.

Ooops! This is America! We allow our citizens to speak out in support of laudable proposals and against those that we think are stupid!

Never mind.

Okay B, it appears that you are in a foul mood, so I will try not to raise your ire anymore today.

I was simply referring to BlueBirder's comment. Just because something is in a proposed document from a non-voting administrator does not mean that it will happen. That is why he must submit the PROPOSED budget to Council by the 31st. of March, according to the Charter.

I mean, speak out against them by all means. But, to imply that it is a done deal, that's simply not the facts.

I'll start by admitting to a bias since I work for the newspaper. The HM did exactly what it should have done by pointing out what, potentially, could cost water users more money. The story also pointed out the proposed budget included no tax increases. So tell me again, mayor, what exactly is your beef with this story?

Based on what you've said here - that raising the water rates is just a proposal - couldn't a resident also make the leap that just because a tax increase isn't in the proposed budget now, that doesn't mean it couldn't be added later?

In the body of the article where it states "If the council approves the budget later this year, the rates for water and wastewater would increase about $4.01 per quarter for customers who live inside the city and roughly $8.54 per quarter for out-of-town customers, Zimmerman said." it would have been nice had it read the proposed budget.
I know, it seems miniscule, but it matters.

I don't mind if people speculate that even a tax increase could be imminent. But, as you know, if it says it in the paper, it must be going to happen.

I guess I just don't have much faith in the reporting skills of the HM reporters or the editors editing abilities.

Sorry, just how I feel.

But by all means, I hope the residents of Hagerstown express their opinion on not raising taxes.

Since the whole story was about the proposed budget, I think the readers got it. They know there will be a series of meetings and then it has to be approved.

I appreciate your honestly about your opinion of the newspaper even if I disagree with it.

One thing you, or members of the council never point out, is that the newspaper is one of your downtown businesses. It's worth mentioning that we've been downtown for just about forever and our employees pump money into the downtown market on a daily basis.

Gee, sorry. Didn't mean to slight the HM. Must be why I mentioned in my state of the City address that we had an award winning newspaper.

Gee. Thanks! I feel better.

No Bobby, I am in an excellent mood. I just enjoy poking fun at people when they set themselves up for it.

You couldn't have done better at painting a big red target on yourself by attacking people for daring to speak out on a public forum to criticize a bad indea which was being officially considered by their elected representatives. I firmly believe in participative government. That means that we the people have a right to know about all of the official ideas our elected representatives are considering, even the really bad ones, and to let them know what we think and feel.

The Herald Mail did us a service to inform us of a really bad idea that was apparently officially under discussion. Good for them - and good for us citizens for speaking out against it.

And I would have said good for you for promising that it will be defeated, but you then criticized the newspaper for informing us and the citizenry for speaking up. IMO that was just plain dumb.

Yes, Paper, and one thing HM fails miserably at is identifying what events actually happen IN Hagerstown. There are at least a half dozen reports each week that specifically use the words IN Hagerstown. Maybe if the editorial folks, reporting folks and headline writers got together before each story went out articles would include greater accuracy. Example the convenience Snax place on Sharpsburg Pike the other day read from the headline and then into the article like the business was IN Sharpsburg, but in fact is located nearly 10 miles away. Or how about the robbery of the gas station a few months back that happened at the corner of Robinwood/Jefferson, nearly 5 miles from the City line. I could give you literally hundreds of examples I have observed, where the reader doesn't simply "get it" because the article is not accurate in giving to them.

O.K. that was me venting on a peeve of mine. Back to the topic.

As we have hashed out so many times on this forum. The City residents OWN the water and sewer systems, and thus ONLY the tax paying citizens within the corporate boundaries are responsible (liable) for the debt incurred to improve and maintain the system, thus the rate differential. I am not certain this is the fourth rate increase in 18 months, but rather the paper has pointed out rate increases for two fiscal budgets in the past 18 months. Either way, the provision of water and sewer is an enterprise system that must be solvent in the cost incurred to provide the service, and is subject to continual regulatory mandates and upgrades and thus increases in fees. I would venture to bet that you would be hard pressed to find systems that do not incur incremental increases on an annual basis, and for those that you will find that do not, you will find the system itself is not accounting for the both costs of maintenance and operations, which is why so many systems across the country are in the state of disrepair that the regulatory agencies are just now realizing and demanding accountability in correcting.

The HM won an award? For what?

Best bird cage liner in the Eastern U.S.

I beg your pardon BMIC. That was a national award.

I was going to let this go B...........












































but I can't.............

Back to topic,

Mayor, could you please provide the increases to the water/sewer bills over the last five years? If not the last five then as far back as you can go (to a maximum of five years). I'd be interested in the month and year of the increase and the percentage increase both to in-city consumers and outside-city consumers served by the Hagerstown City water/sewer system.

I'd greatly appreciate it.

Kid, I can live with annual increases and understand the necessities of those increases. I can't live with less than annual increases. And you don't have to explain about the differences in cost any more, I get it. Well, I don't get it, but that's just me, I just don't understand it. But I read what you explained.

Yoss, I'll have them to you tomorrow.

Thanks Much!

If you'd prefer to pm them that's fine.

LOL I stand corrected: Best bird cage liner in the nation.... or one of the top five, at least. It's that super absorbency...

LOL I stand corrected: Best bird cage liner in the nation.... or one of the top five, at least. It's that super absorbency...


that is possibly one of the funniest comments I have ever read on this forum

Yup, that is what I use to line my parrot's cages with. It works pretty good!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/84/255633658_afd9fd52c1_m.jpg

Yoss, almost forgot about you.
I didn't get anything from my water and waste water departments today, but in the budget it does give the increases for the last three years.

05/06 water = 3.7%
06/07 water = 3.5%
07/08 water = 0
08/09 water = 3.5% recommended. I believe I have found a way to have a 0% increase this year again.

SEWER

in city in county
05/06 3.7 % 3.7%
06/07 3.5 % 3.5%
07/08 8.5% 16%
08/09 6.0% 7.3% recommended, but I am still trying to reduce these.

Hang in there. 54 more days until we vote to adopt the budget and rate increases.

Thanks Bob, I appreciate it.

Maybe it just seemed to me like it was less than yearly.

That doesn't seem right though, I'm thinking the County Residents served by the City system were hit with nearly double what the in-city folks got hit with.

I appreciate everything you can do to keep the increases to a minimum for everyone served by the City System. Which by the way, I think the quality of water is pretty close to excellent. Except in the fall when we get that nasty moldy leaf aroma. lol

Yoss just remember we are also paying taxes to the city on top of those rates.

Except in the fall when we get that nasty moldy leaf aroma. lol

Yeah, at least we haven't started charging extra for that yet.

I think you guys should start charging for product placement and have commercials during the council meetings. You guys get alot of viewers just to see what stupid thing happens next. You should be able to get some endorsement deals for the city. Maybe we need a thread for that. We can get people to suggest what products the council can use to raise funds for the city. LOL

I wonder how many people do actually watch the meetings.

Kelly was talking about that the other night at the Charter Committee meeting. She commented about how many people watch and comment to them. I know I don't watch as much as I should but I know at least 6 people who watch on a semi regular or regular basis. It would be interesting to know then maybe we could get the Ocunty to start televising.

Summer's Eve. I'll leave it to you to guess why they would be a top sponsor.

OMG BMIC you all almost became a hero to some of our council. I have been sick the last few days and when i read your comment I started laughing so hard I almost choked. (I know at least one or two of the council who wouldn't mind me choking to death, although they would probably liek to do it themselves) That was a good one a really good one. LOL

Thanks. Sometimes I come up with a good one. It's that dry wit.

Then other times, I just pi.. people off.

Meh - I'm enjoying life, in any event!

Guess what?? I noticed the 'possibility' is closer per today's paper...ha,ha to all of you who said it won't happen..

Washngton County budget proposal would raise water, sewer rates


Tx, is this what you are talking about?

Since I see you are here Kid, any truth to Mr. Mayors statement? You gonna jack our rates AGAIN?

It must be true Patton, it's in the paper.

I don't "trust" the paper, but I did find the answer in the Meeting Summary:

WATER QUALITY OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND COST OF SERVICE –
Division of Environmental Management Director Julie Pippel and Utility Engineer Mark Bradshaw brought this review of the Water Quality budget to the Board for review. Pippel told the Board that the Utility Administration Fund budget is balanced for Fiscal Year 2009 at $3.64 million, an increase of 3.23%. The proposed Water Fund budget would be balanced at $1.78 million, an increase of $495,620, or 38.77 percent. The proposed Sewer Fund budget would be balanced at $10.6 million, a decrease of 2.05%. The proposed Pretreatment Fund budget would be balanced at $695,600 and is the same amount as budgeted in Fiscal Year 2008. The Utility Model as presented would see Residential Water rates for the Base 6,000 gallons per month use at $80.20 per quarter, an increase of 30 cents per 1,000 gallons, or $4.50 per quarter. Each additional 1,000 gallons would cost $7.85. Residential Sewer rates would be $86.00 per quarter with each additional 1,000 gallons priced at $4.90. The base rate would rise $2.70, and the change in the over 1,000 additional gallon rate would be 26 cents. The rates would be taken to Public Hearing on April 22nd if approved, and the motion to take the issue to the public was approved by unanimous vote.

What I love about this "public meeting" is the only thing they do is bring the DWQ Advisory board out. They say uh yup, this is what they told us to say, uh yup. Then they shove it down our throat, no matter what the public says.

See I was right.

Summer's Eve FTW!

That's a County Department, you realize that, right? Unless I misunderstood what you were referring to.

Yes, Yoss, I too was a bit confused. I am not sure Tx realizes the rates mentioned in the paper are county rates on the county system which are different from city rates on the city system. Either way my answer would be yes, the plan is to increase rates incrementally on an annual basis for the forseeable future, as has been done since 1995 on the County system. In fact if you want my candid opinion, hte rates are being kepty artificially low by transferring general tax money into the cost each year to keep the increases to a minimum for the customer base using the system, I would prefer this trnasfer not occur and folks pay for exactly what it costs to provide the service.

Kid, thank you for your candid comment, and will respectfully disagree with you.

Earlier I had asked a question in the Shoutbox of you, which I and ModSquad buried, but anyway....Could you please inform me of the final cost to the county of the Pen Mar Water System Installation? I appreciate your response.

I will try ot get the answer for you, but in keeping with the modsquad policies could you please post this question the Citizen Q and A thread?