Mark Twain once said:
”
Whiskey for drinking and water for fighting over.
”
Timeless wisdom from one of America’s foremost satirists, and in
Hollister, the idea could not be truer.
Mark Twain once said: “Whiskey for drinking and water for fighting over.”
Timeless wisdom from one of America’s foremost satirists, and in Hollister, the idea could not be truer. As the city struggles to balance water and sewer expenses and revenues in the scope of our larger budget problems, bet that rate increases are on the way. An early glimpse at a rate study shows water bills could jump by 30 percent and sewer rates could double.
Anger at rising bills will undoubtedly follow the hit to local pocketbooks. However, the 6,200 households served by Hollister need to remember water rates haven’t increased in 13 years. Considering most municipalities adjust their rates at least every few years, residents have been receiving the deal of the decade for local water service. It’s only natural for costs to rise over time, and the only problem with Hollister’s rising utility rates is that they are long overdue. More than a decade of revenue was lost because the city dragged its feet on increasing water rates, and now the city is facing ever-increasing budget battles as the new fiscal year draws near. Residents hardly are alone when being hit by the City Hall financial fiasco.
With City Hall $4 million short on the coming year’s budget, there are layoffs of city workers and cuts in the police department planned. The fire department could be going under the ax next.
So now city officials predict water and sewer rates could increase significantly. It will be yet another cost increase during our poor economy, and yet another reason for people to flee Hollister’s ever-rising cost of living.
Hopefully there is a lesson to be learned here, and the City Council will pay closer attention to the necessity to keep up with rate increases.
Slamming residents with a huge increase because you didn’t get around to it for years is not good government. Though yearly rate increases are not pleasant, it is easier to swallow a small increase than a whopper like the one that’s coming. However distasteful the 30 percent increase may be, there is an obvious need for revenues to match expenses. As the city reviews its rate structure, it needs to keep the people of Hollister in mind and not use the excuse that it was something former officials should have done.
If rates need to rise to keep Hollister utilities’ heads above water so be it, but the city should do everything possible to mitigate the impact on its citizens.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or fax to 637-4104 or e-mail
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