Apr 07 2008
Charlotte Council Faces Water Hike Vote Tonight
Though they’re under pressure to vote tonight, Charlotte City Council members said Sunday they were still searching for ways to avoid a 15 percent hike in the city’s water rate.
The rate increase is needed because of water conservation during a time of record drought, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities says. But critics say the utility is punishing the public for heeding its call to conserve.
That’s a valid point. The state gets hit with a drought. The governor and the city council implement water restrictions and push residents to conserve. They follow through with the request and now they get punished for it with a hike in their water rate. What kind of message will this send to the residents of Charlotte next time a drought hits and they are told to conserve again? 15% is quite a hike.
I think it’s a bunch of bull!!!!!!!!! Why should I have to pay more when I did what I was told to do.I think it’s unreal.People are losing their homes.Why? Let’s see gas prices,grocery prices ,loss of jobs, mortage rates increasing and now the water bill is going to be more. Yeah I think they have it all fiqured out. I am actually being nice. I f I said what I actually felt it would be a lot worse.
Alright- where’s Mr. “The Difference is Leadership” McCrory? As mayor, he did not have a vote on this issue (unless the council had tied), but I haven’t heard anything from him on whether he supports or opposes this fee hike.
The difference IS leadership, Pat. Tell me why I should vote for you next month if you won’t take a stand on this isssue.
Very true. McCrory could make an example of his committment to lowering taxes and reigning in waste by picking up his veto pen on this. Granted, he’ll probably get overridden since the vote was 7-3, but his action would make a statement all the same.