A 45% WASTEWATER HIKE could be in place by next Monday, December 28th . Rates would increase 15% per year for the next 3 years for a total of 45%. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. According to a Knox Pages story posted December 15, 2020, the legislation “calls for FUTURE INCREASES TO BE AUTOMATIC (emphasis added), with council reviewing the rates at least every three years.” This provision fundamentally changes how rates have been increased in the past and OPENS THE DOOR TO RATE INCREASES IN PERPETUITY (FOREVER). Currently, in order to implement an increase, city council must intentionally choose to raise rates and then undertake the process of enacting legislation, presumably with the opportunity for public comment and input. By making future increases “automatic”, i.e. easier, council is absolved of its responsibility to the people, the public is bypassed and their voices silenced. Is such a concern overstated or unwarranted? According to the Knox Pages post, after the 45% increase has been implemented, the CITY’S UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED A 10% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR THE NEXT 7 YEARS, THROUGH 2030. If that happens, the wastewater rates would be increased by 115%, more than double the current rate. Just 3 years ago, in 2017, the wastewater rate was increased by 42%. Combined with that increase, the total rate hike is one hundred and fifty-seven percent (157%). What does that mean in real dollars? Prior to the 2017 increase, the water rate was $13.80 per month, or $165.60 per year. Under the proposed legislation with recommended rate hikes through 2030, the new annual rate will be $505.68 per year. It is shocking how seemingly small and arguably harmless increases of just $2.96-$3.88 per month through 2023 (Knox Pages, 12/15/20) become real dollars with real consequences for the typical family that will have to pay the increase. After 2030, who knows how much those “automatic” increases will be, and that is just wastewater. According to Knox Pages, when questioned about water rates, (Safety Service Director) Dzik said the city will do an assessment of water fees next year similar to the assessment of wastewater rates the city did this year. Citizens of Mount Vernon, break out your wallets because, if history repeats itself, you ain’t seen nothin yet.
Most people would agree our aging wastewater infrastructure is a problem and must be addressed, but how and why was it allowed to get to this point? Historically, the city’s mantra seems to be “ignore a problem until it cannot be ignored any longer, then use the resulting “crises” to justify additional taxes/user fees”. As evidence of that, one need not look any further than recent comments by our city leaders. In an article in the December 16th Mount Vernon News, councilman John Francis, who supports the rate hike legislation, was quoted as saying, “…I am not against the increase. I’ve heard these nightmare stories since I’ve been on council of the sickening decay of our infrastructure under our feet.” Councilman Francis, what have you done about our deteriorating infrastructure under your feet since being elected to council? Quoting the News in the same article, Safety Service Director Rick Dzik indicated the proposed legislation “keeps the city from digging itself into the hole it has been doing for the last twenty years.” According to the Knox Pages post, Mr. Dzik was quoted as also saying, “We can’t afford to let our rate increases fall of a cliff. We did a good job setting rates higher (apparently referring to earlier wastewater rate increases), and then we stopped.” Recognizing Mr. Dzik was only recently appointed as Safety Service Director, who is responsible for letting the city dig “itself into the hole it has been doing for the last twenty years.” and who “let our rate increases fall off a cliff”? Mr.. Dzik purportedly said in the same post, “If we had instituted a 3% increase 20 years ago, we probably would not be in this situation.” He’s probably right. By his own formula, if the city had acted 20 years ago, the total rate hike would have only been 80.61% spread out over 20 years, not the projected 157% in 13 years (2017-2030). WHO FAILED TO ACT? WHO DROPPED THE BALL? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD DECISIONS THAT PUT US IN THIS POSITION? THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT NOW WANTS TO IMPOSE ON AND BURDEN THEIR CONSTITUENTS WITH MASSIVE AND, IN THE FUTURE, AUTOMATIC RATE HIKES. WHO GETS TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES, WE DO!
The argument will be made that these past failures are why the proposed legislation is needed, but why is the public subjected to huge and automatic rate hikes in the future because government lacked self discipline and failed to act in the past? Can we rely on a few individuals, many unelected, such as the city engineer and utility commission, to make these decisions for us. If past performance is any indicator, the answer is a resounding “No”. The need, supporting cost data, revenue projections, project proposals and the effect of the legislation on the people, which is all too often overlooked, must be scrutinized, questioned and challenged by an independent city council as the people’s representatives, and only after adequate notice to, and comment and input from, the people themselves. Before any increase or the amount of that increase is approved, council should consider possible cost cutting measures within the entire city finances, potential alternative options to the proposed rate hikes, as well as other available funds or grants. Any increase must be looked at in the context of a 42% wastewater rate increase just 3 years ago, an income tax increase implemented 2 years ago, the newly imposed storm water user fee this year and a likely water rate increase next year. The public’s pockets are only so deep. One of the effects of the income tax increase was to return revenue previously budgeted to the police back to the general fund for use as the city deemed appropriate. Apparently, at that time, wastewater repair wasn’t particularly important. Despite alleged financial shortfalls, the city spent significant funds this year on personnel in the City Law Director’s Office while broken underground pipes caused water to bubble up through our streets resulting in multiple “boil advisories”. Where are the city’s priorities?
We, the people, are entitled to have our voices heard, to engage our representatives on proposed legislation in a timely and meaningful way and to have our questions answered. By definition, “transparency” means to shine a light on, to act openly. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT WITH REGARD TO THE WASTEWATER LEGISLATION. If you weren’t aware of this legislation at the time of its first reading just before Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. It seems to have been one of the best kept secrets in Mount Vernon, only coming to light recently. Public officials have provided virtually no information or explanation to the public concerning the legislation. There has not been any effort to inform, educate or seek public opinion or input on the proposal, its content or the impact it will have on the people of Mount Vernon. Considering the magnitude of this legislation, one wonders why the administration has remained silent. Maybe the answer is self-evident. Contrast the efforts, or lack thereof, to inform the public about this legislation to the steps taken concerning the storm water utility legislation last year. Whether for or against the utility, an informed public had the opportunity to have their voices heard, as it should with this legislation.
The Covid-19 shutdown may be partly responsible for the lack of communication and interaction, causing the city to resort to virtual, zoom council meetings instead of live, in person meetings open to the public. Such a significant piece of legislation, however, should not be passed in the darkness of Covid. With minimal effort, communication or transparency was possible. Just days ago, the Mount Vernon News (December 19, 2020), announced the city was reaching out to the public through an online survey to help develop Mount Vernon’s strategic plan for the next 3-5 years. Without minimizing the importance of a plan to identify the “City’s mission, vision and goals”, it pales in significance to the amount of taxes/user fees people will have to pay in the here and now while fighting to survive a Covid-19 economy that has closed small business; put people out of work; resulted in lost or reduced incomes and caused people to struggle to meet their family’s needs, including keeping a roof over their heads. In such an environment, dollars matter! Understanding why, how and to what extent rates may need to be increased, and having a voice in that process matters! For our city leaders to act without transparency is, at a minimum, a violation of the trust and responsibility due the people and, at worst, deceitful.
This legislation should be tabled until there has been an adequate, meaningful opportunity for public consideration, comment and input. If you agree, contact your ward council person and council members at large. Their contact numbers are on the City’s website.