The City of Phoenix is looking to expand the Water Department and the funds to add 98 additional employees appear that they will come from a water rate increase that will be put on the shoulders of tax payers.
In a correspondence from Councilman Sal DiCiccio, the City plans to introduce a plan to raise water rates almost 40%. This increase would occur in small increments ranging from 5-7% now until 2016. Water rates have increased 40% already in the past 5 years alone. Over a ten year stretch, water rates in the City of Phoenix will have increased 80%. And the rate hike this time isn't to save money.
At the same time that the City of Phoenix is working with the Water Department to pinch more pennies from the taxpayers' wallet, the Water Department is looking to add 98 additional employees, on top of the 165 employees transferred to that department just last year.
The City has recently been patting itself on the back for cutting back positions within the city government, however, most of those positions were vacant, and others were transferred to the water department. The Water Department too has been patting itself on the back for bragging about the ability to cut its budget by 3%. Thats a pretty low number for an economy that is on the brink of a recession, possibly even in the midst of a depression.
In a quote from Councilman DiCiccio, he states, "I believe Phoenix has to pay its contracted debt for projects. I support a department that delivers sufficient and safe water to Phoenix citizens. I do not believe city management or the Water Department has tried hard enough to do the same things you have had to do to make ends meet in these difficult times. It seems apparent that, instead of doing that, they have raised your taxes and fees and dropped your service so no one in city hall is even marginally hurt by the recession. Too bad for customers and taxpayers. I have long advocated for more transparency in government and that these shenanigans must stop. Phoenix will stop when you, the boss, demand that it stops."
What can you do?
1. Research the information and decide for yourself what you think is right. You can phone your councilmen and ladies, tell them you're opinion on the water rate hike. You can also email your councilmen and ladies also.
2. Get into Action! Go to the City of Phoenix Council Meeting on January 19th at City of Phoenix Council District 6, 200 W. Washington St., 11th Fl., Phoenix, AZ 85003 . To find out more information on the Council Meetings call 602-262-7491.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/05/20110105phoenix-water-rate-increase.html#ixzz1ACc50ZpZ
Water department positions: http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@pcc/@dist6/documents/web_content/053594.pdf
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