You deserve to know how I voted and why.
As your VWD representative since 2012, my first concern has been to provide safe, reliable water service at the lowest possible cost.
But I'll be honest with you: your water rates are going to go up. The key is to keep the increase as low as possible while maintaining quality service. I recently supported a 5% increase. Here's why:
But I'll be honest with you: your water rates are going to go up. The key is to keep the increase as low as possible while maintaining quality service. I recently supported a 5% increase. Here's why:
- The costs of buying, treating and delivering water have gone up and will keep doing so.
- VWD has been paying more for water than it charges its customers, depleting reserve funds to make up the difference.
- Infrastructure improvements and routine upkeep are critical because deferred maintenance and emergency repairs are always far more costly and disruptive.
VWD's rates are still in the bottom third among local agencies, even with this increase.
Spending wisely is good financial management. So is cutting waste.
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