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PROPOSED TUSTIN WATER RATE INCREASES
Many residents of the City of Tustin and the North Tustin area who are customers of the City of Tustin Water Service recently received a Notice of Public Hearing, to be held on May 1, 2006. The stated purpose of the hearing is for the customers to tell the City Council members their thoughts regarding Proposed Water Rate Increases. The notice also stated that if a majority of affected customers file written protests, the proposed rate increases will not be imposed.
I have been a satisfied customer of the Tustin Water Service for nearly 45 years and do not want to this service to be degraded in the future because of insufficient revenue to support this service. However, the information provided to the customers in the Notice does not provide any data to justify how much rates need to be increased in order to support projected increased operating costs or need for capital improvements.
There is little doubt that costs of providing water have increased, and it is possible that some rate increases are justified. However, an evaluation of the proposed rates listed in the Notice shows that, after the third step increase, planned for January, 2008, the total cost increase is over 40%, a very significant jump. Is that much really needed? Furthermore, it is stated that the increase in total billing for a typical customer is $8.28 for two months of service. That, however, is just for the change after the first step: after the third step rate change, the increase in total billing is about $24.90 for two months service. Many high consumption customers will see much larger increases in billings of course.
Given these facts, how can we customers expect to make a true judgment of the need for any increase in water service rates, unless the City Council provides more detailed and complete data as to cost and revenue projections.
It is necessary that we all attend the May 1, 2006 Public Hearing, to be held at the Tustin City Council chambers, at 7:00 PM and insist that the Tustin City Council withhold any action on these proposed rate increases until accurate and complete justification is made available to us. I urge attendance and action at the Hearing by all concerned customers.
Hal Marshall
North Tustin