FPUD sewer services rates

Below is a letter I plan to read at the 25 June 2007 meeting covering ‘Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Water and Wastewater Rates.’

“I am just wondering why you need to constantly increase our sewer bills. It used to be every two years. Then it became yearly. Now, it is every six months. Why?

My daughter and husband live on 1-1/2 acres, have a 3 bedroom home with two full bathrooms along with 3 children ages 5, 11 and 13.

They had their septic tank pumped about 6 months ago. They had lived in the house for 9-1/2 years. This was the first time they had had the septic tank pumped. The charge for the pumping was $295. Presently, my sewer bill is $78.72 every 2 months. That totals $472.68 for 12 months. Multiply that amount by 9 years and it comes to an astonishing amount of $4,254.14. She only paid $295 for that period of time. The pumping service had to pay a dumping fee, so I know that they would include that fee in the charge plus the wages of their employees and upkeep of their equipment. Otherwise they would be out of business. Persons on sewer are, at this point, paying $137.94 every two months (this does not include water charges) or $837.64 yearly. This is also praying the Operations Charge does not rise.

I know that you are going to say you have a lot of overhead expenses, however, the operation charges ($55.22 every six months - $331.32 yearly) should take care of your overhead charges. If not, what do they cover? I only wish I knew how many residents were on the sewer system. I bet it would be absolutely amazing how much you are taking in yearly. If you read my letter in the Village News issue of May 31, 2007, you should be able to answer this question easily and if you do, make sure you include all of the new housing projects that have sprung up over the past few years. Thank you.

Phyllis Ann Brown