Well, here is a bit of news that should not take anybody by surprise. All that building and prosperity has a price.
The Calaveras Enterprise is reporting that CCWD mulls higher water, sewer rates.
When the county "mulls" over raising prices for water and sewer, they are not just musing and noodling around with the idea; they are beginning the PR campaign to allow the constituents plenty of time accept reality before it is initiated. In other words, they are going to raise prices.
They are "debating" the plan that "would raise base water rates from the current $22 a month" to "$39.50 per month" "at the end of five years". Wow! If you calculate that over 12 months, then you are going from $264 per year to $474.
Sewer charges will also be raised from the current $45 per month to $67.50 over the same 5 year period. That is going from $540 per year to $810 per year.
For water that is about a 79% increase and for sewer it is a 50% increase. Wouldn't it be nice if they could just keep up with the rate of inflation instead of going through these kinds of spikes?
Ah, what's a couple hundred extra dollars in today's get rich in real estate market? Ask any realtor and they will tell you it is a seller's market and always a good time to buy. Hurry, there are few properties at this price...and other clichés...ad nauseam.
Well, I think there is a key toward the bottom of the article:
Is this an indicator that the county understands that property values are decreasing and future development won't bring in the tax dollars that they had once projected? Hmmm...I wonder.
The Calaveras Enterprise is reporting that CCWD mulls higher water, sewer rates.
When the county "mulls" over raising prices for water and sewer, they are not just musing and noodling around with the idea; they are beginning the PR campaign to allow the constituents plenty of time accept reality before it is initiated. In other words, they are going to raise prices.
They are "debating" the plan that "would raise base water rates from the current $22 a month" to "$39.50 per month" "at the end of five years". Wow! If you calculate that over 12 months, then you are going from $264 per year to $474.
Sewer charges will also be raised from the current $45 per month to $67.50 over the same 5 year period. That is going from $540 per year to $810 per year.
For water that is about a 79% increase and for sewer it is a 50% increase. Wouldn't it be nice if they could just keep up with the rate of inflation instead of going through these kinds of spikes?
Ah, what's a couple hundred extra dollars in today's get rich in real estate market? Ask any realtor and they will tell you it is a seller's market and always a good time to buy. Hurry, there are few properties at this price...and other clichés...ad nauseam.
Well, I think there is a key toward the bottom of the article:
Like all other special districts, CCWD receives a portion of property tax revenue from all county land owners, even if they are not district customers.
That property tax revenue is used to offset operations - costs that otherwise would be covered by monthly rates.
As explained at Thursday’s meeting, the reliance on property taxes will be decreased by 5 percent each year over the next five years.
The revenue would go into a fund that could be used for major projects that have more of a countywide impact, such as protecting water rights.
Is this an indicator that the county understands that property values are decreasing and future development won't bring in the tax dollars that they had once projected? Hmmm...I wonder.
No comments:
Post a Comment