Press Release
Yesterday the City Council voted 8-1 to dramatically increase water rates in the City of San Diego despite angry public comments by dozens of ratepayers and 8,557 signed protest forms. Councilman Scott Sherman cast the lone dissenting vote.
The council’s action will increase rates by 14.75 percent over two years – a 7.25 percent increase in calendar year 2014 and a 7.5 percent increase in 2015.
“This water rate increase hurts working families and is absolutely unnecessary. It could have been avoided if the City would have taken additional cost-cutting measures or used cash reserves,” noted Councilman Sherman.
In addition, Councilman Sherman expressed concerns regarding how the rate increases were structured. “We are not being transparent with these rates. This proposal recommends that 5 percent of the increase for 2014 and 4.75 percent of the increase for 2015 be used in order to recover prior year County Water Authority Pass-through rates which would retroactively charge customers for the projected lost revenue from not increasing rates for the last two years.”
Sherman also noted that the Cost of Service Study uses “recent historical trends” to forecast zero new water connections in the City for both 2014 and 2015 despite the fact that current trends show that there is development going on in this City with new communities like Civita in Mission Valley being built right now that will add over 3,000 new units. This reduces forecasted revenues and helps create an artificial need for a rate increase.
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Comments 9
If Sherman cast the lone dissenting vote, does that mean that Kevin Faulconer voted in favor of the huge increase?
Hey, the San Diego city department has already been cut to the bone. After all, they USED to annually give bonuses to NINETY PERCENT of the department’s employees (2,300 strong at one point, as I recall) — apparently an award for showing up to work more often than not.
Well, for clocking in and clocking out. The quality and quantity of work done is perhaps more problematical.
Republican Scott Sherman deserves our appreciation for standing firm against the predatory water rate increase. As Scott noted, the City of San Diego is getting an unneeded 15% increase in revenue on the backs of the middle class. Scott has common sense and compassion. What about the Democrats on the City Council? No compassion? David Alvarez? Typical Democrats saying one thing and doing another. What about Kevin Faulconer? Forget paving the city streets. A far better way to show you care about the average citizen is by rolling back these outrageous water increases that hurts the average citizen. This rollback would have a very real impact on the average San Diego citizen. California has the 2nd highest water rates in the nation. No wonder people are leaving California.
Outdated item from my CA vs. the Other States” fact sheet:
“A 2011 survey of home water bills for the 20 largest U.S. cities found that for 200 gallons a day usage, San Diego was the highest cost. At 400 gal/day, San Diego was third highest.”
http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/allstats590.jpg
If we haven’t move up to number one yet, it’s likely we’ll achieve that in a couple years.
To get a recent version of my fact sheet:
http://www.TinyURL.com/CA-vs-other-states
Thanks Scott Sherman! I’m surprised that Lori Z., Kevin F. and Mark K. voted yes. I pay more in water / sewer and I have reduced usage a lot. Punishment for conserving I guess. More and more reasons to consider leaving CA.
Nice to be back in the tropics for a few days. Mr. Rider you again have some interesting stats that a clod like myself can understand. I also wish you and your San Diego Family a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.
I own properties in both the Anza Borrego and San Diego. My wife and I pay the bills and feel true pain. Our renters do not. Even tenants must bathe. We do not pass on the pain to current renters.
I still have friends who staffed for Brian Bilbray who have given up on me for my inability to grasp the tenacious politics that occur with the California Water Authorities.
I must blame a major portion of our water rate hikes on this Authority. Driving into San Diego from the Anza Borrego, one is visually astounded by the Tropical setting of this Beautiful town. Alas, we will always pay the premium in water. It is the nature of the Beast.
Congressman Bilbray always thought out of the envelope. Thanks to Jerry Brown and the Mexican Cartels, Salton Sea is now being revamped. We have an Ocean. Lets use it. Pay Now Play Later. Why slam the city council? They are simply hostage to the water cartels. Take note of the Water Wars in Texas, with ass wipe Ross Perot.
Artic Wind: They are on the City Council to DO SOMETHING instead of just throwing up their hands in surrender. If I was on the San Diego City Water Board, despite the corrupt CA Water Authority, I would raise holy hell about this situation and keep raising hell to get this fixed. Nothing is impossible. The predatory water rates tremendously hurt the middle class in San Diego. But not a word out of Kevin, Lori, or Mark. You want a hot button campaign issue Kevin? Announce a plan for taking on the Water Cartel and reducing San Diego water rates.
Kevin F should have never voted for the rise in H2O rates, especially given the sink holes every other day and the fact most of us use less water and pay more each other month. Sherman was wise.
Thanks, Scott S. You did the right thing. The ONLY city council critter who did the right thing!