Water rates to go up over four years
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Jun 9, 2010
Story Updated:
Jun 10, 2010
The city is looking to raise your water rates only four years after the last raise.
At this week's city council meeting, they voted five-to-four to look into raising rates to cover $400 million worth of projects.
Debate raged on Monday night at Laredo’s City Council meeting over water rate hikes that the Utilities Department says are necessary.
Some council members did not want to vote on this issue because they say they didn't have all the facts.
Other rate hikes have focused on commercial properties but this hike will be different.
Only four years ago, the city of Laredo City Council voted ‘yes’ to raising water rates for projects that included a secondary water source.
That idea was scrapped because of cost issues but the city is now looking to build a water treatment plant.
While rates in Laredo are still below the Texas average they could raise by an average of up to $3 a month, every year.
The city's projections have Laredo doubling in size by 2060 and say they are barely keeping up as it is now, and demand is only going to grow.
The city says the average Laredo home pays $20 a month less than the average for the State of Texas.
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Laredoan said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 10:47 PM
I can understand rates need to be raised for many improvements. However, I would like to know when the City will give it's employees a raise. They haven't been given one in 21 months. No cost of living or anything, yet we have more assistant city managers than before. Why not start there and having less assistant city managers. We could save thousands of dollars there.
45072594whatisfair said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 12:19 AM
I totally agree with you LAREDOAN . Start cutting cost from the top and then down . Pro8news , can you get the salaries of all managers along with their perks . I believe you will get alot of reactions to that report . This should be automatic . It's like saying we're hurting and need to cut jobs and salaries , but not me ( city manager ) because I'm too important . Hijole , what a shame .
45076049Agua said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 1:20 AM
I would like to see a UV device that disinfects the water better than the chlorine we use now. If I am to pay more, I want the technology to be "updated". Chlorine is good, but it doesn't kill a lot of parasites. With this new implementation, we would have some of the "safest" water in all of Texas. Only then will you people be justified in hiking the prices, as well as fixing leaky water mains and preventing "wasteful" water from pouring out onto the street.
45077404agree said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 8:47 AM
mayor you need to bring down the number of asst city managers to ONE. we dont need more then one. if she or he can not do the job find another one but dont add more.BRING IT DOWN TO ONE. maybe the water rates would stay the same and maybe even update the system
45092964totally agree said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 10:17 AM
Reduce dept. heads to one, assistant city managers to one. The City does no need too many managers, supervisors to get the job done, the ones that really work are the regular employees.
45100734Do It! said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 4:00 PM
I agree with whatisfair. A report on their salaries and perks could let Laredo see how their money is being wasted! Reduce the heads, save money, save the citizens!
45130059de laredo said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 8:55 PM
think about it this way...if it were your office, who would go first or how much would you cut. and what would the people that had the pay cut do, quit or stay. if they stay, they are unhappy and unproductive. if they quit, now you are saving money but who will do their work? would you do the extra woork, someone has to. and what if it was you that was fired? then what?
45145544Anonymous said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 8:57 PM
would anyone do a performance review before cutting pay or jobs?
45145724whatisfair said on Friday, Jun 11 at 12:30 AM
I believe the employees who are retiring are not getting replaced . So , guess what ? people are already doing extra work and I can bet that the majority are not happy campers . Think about it this way : The City Managers are saying , Do as I say and not as I do .. A que no !!!!
45156089chill out said on Sunday, Jun 13 at 9:09 AM
Yes we have too many assisstant city managers, remember too many cooks spoil the broth. In the past some take care of their own interest first before the city's.
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