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Mayor’s office to present water reform on Thursday
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 3:00pm
Metro water and sewer users will find out on Thursday the level of rate increases they can expect in the near future when Mayor Karl Dean presents his proposed water, sewer and stormwater reform plan to Metro Council.
This much is clear: The plan will include rate increases to fund approximately $500 million in water and sewer capital projects in the coming years. Many of those projects have been mandated to bring Metro in line with a consent decree from the federal government.
Besides rate increases, Dean is expected to introduce a new stormwater fee to be charged to property owners based on the amount of impervious space their property occupies. Metro Director of Finance Richard Riebeling confirmed to The City Paper last month a rate increase and new stormwater fee was likely.
Metro has a backlog of stormwater projects that will require $86 million in capital funding in the coming years. A Metro Water report from a year ago suggested dedicated funding was necessary to meet the capital needs.
Dean’s plan will be presented in front of a special meeting of the Metro budget and finance committee. Metro Water Director Scott Potter and Riebeling will be on hand to answer questions.
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Filed under: City News
huh, what do you know, the amount to fund all the projects is just short of the amount that supposedly will build the convention center.
Not too long ago I watched on TV, aired by a local access station, a City Council meeting of Columbia TN. The best part was two Female City Council members adamantly against any new 'rate hikes' for the citizens in their 'ward', and they were verbally outspoken against the new hikes by TVA and they demanded action against it. They opposed a new construction project by the local big guys (those guys always wantin a hand out from the tax-payers).
What Mayor Dean should do is Tax the big Polluters and big dirty industry Users of our natural water supply. He should tax the soda pop industry for making all those bottles and cans that need to be recycled.
"Besides rate increases, Dean is expected to introduce a new stormwater fee to be charged to property owners based on the amount of impervious space their property occupies"...huh ?What definition of "impervious" makes any sense here ?
You've got to admit, it's great timing through. First, NES increases the bill 50%, but says it's really 20%....then this water thing, which is mostly mandated. Probably because of poor planning on Metro Water's part, but, of course, we won't hear about that....next, it'll be property taxes, and that should just about cap this dog and pony show....and here we are in the midst of a depression...opps, I mean...depression.They don't want to call it that yet 'cause that would be too real.
You would think with increase population they would have increased revenue. The pattern and practice of any government agency is to spend more then they have rather the prioritizing the expenditures based on the revenue they have coming in.They are like spoiled children with access to their parents money.We need that Convention Center WHY? We don't need a billion dollar note hanging over our heads.
What definition of "impervious" makes any sense here ? That means if you have a parking lot, the water runs off into the stormwater/sewer system instead of being absorbed into the ground.
Thanks Kosh. Websters doesn't have a clueon that one, and neither did I.
What time is the meeting?
What time is the meeting?