Public Hearing on Proposed Water Rate Increases to Pay for Billion Dollar Water Treatment Plant
Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 26th.
That’s the only chance you’ll get to speak to the Austin City Council on the water rate increases proposed by the Austin Water Utility. The public hearing is in City Hall at Cesar Chavez and Lavaca and starts at 4pm. Bring dinner, as Council often pushes items back from their listed start time.
Starting in 2004, the Austin City Council has raised residential water rates EVERY YEAR, even as water use per person has been going down. Why are they charging us more, with plans to keep raising rates for years to come?
In large part to pay for the boondoggle water treatment plant, the Billion Dollar Mistake on the Lake. That’s right – four City Council Members (including the Mayor, who is the main proponent) want you to pay more to build a water treatment plant that Austin may never need.
The City Council votes on proposed water rate increases, and this year’s will come up for their vote in mid-September. But Thursday, August 26th, is our only chance to speak up against raising rates.
Below, see just how much the Austin City Council has already raised residential water rates and the increases planned for the next several years.
Year - Residential Rate Hikes
2004 - 5.9%
2005 - 11.8%
2006 - 5.2%
2006 - 7.1%
2008 - 9.8%
2009 - 7.0%
2010 - 10.1%
2011* - 6.7%
2012* - 7.8%
2013* - 7.8%
2014* - 6.2%
2015* - 3.3%
Cumulative - 134.7%
*Proposed
(Source: Past city budgets; staff answers to questions on future rates from Council Member Bill Spelman)
- Colin Clark
