Springfield's City Council voted Monday night in favor of increasing local storm and waste water fees by 14%, this will raise local water rates $2.08 a month average, and local stormwater fees will increase by $1.21 per month average.
The reason for the increase is from a hard deadline from a EPA order that mandates improvements to prevent nine city sewers from overflowing during major storms.
"Our citizens are being hit hard, but I want to point out this is really a separation of needs and wants,” Councilor Joe Pishioneri said. “I don’t want to be a part of taxation. … But you folks have to understand, the city needs to have these things done or there will be significant consequences.”
With one in seven out of work, the city councilors were at dismay about raising fees in this recession.
"Mayor Sid Leiken said that if the city ignored the Jan. 1 deadline to improve some of its sewers, the cost to taxpayers in legal fees and fines could be two- to three-times greater than any rate increase.
I can't fault the city council for the increase given the circumstances, however, I do foresee more brown lawns this year then last year.
1 comment:
Forget the lawns and plant things to eat. Works for me. I love fresh vegetables anyway.
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