Water, sewer rates going up for STPUD customers
By Kathryn Reed
Sewer and water rates are going up July 1 for South Tahoe Public Utility District customers.
On a 3-2 vote, the board agreed to raise sewer rates 5 percent and water rates 2 percent. Board members Chris Cefalu and Randy Vogelgesang voted against the rate increase. Cefalu has said all along he is against raising rates.
During a break in the May 17 board meeting, Vogelgesang told Lake Tahoe News, “I was for a zero percent increase. Everyone I know has had their income go down.”
He would like cuts be made in the budget, but would not share his ideas with Lake Tahoe News. Vogelgesang said he has spoken to General Manager Richard Solbrig about his ideas, but then added he does not want to micromanage.
Eric Schafer, president of the board, said while he appreciates the financial constraints people are under, to keep services at the level people are used to requires investing in the product. He said smaller rate increases are easier to cope with than going years without an increase and levying a large spike in fees to ratepayers.
The combined rate increase will mean an additionaal $27.60 a year for most residential ratepayers.
It was a 5-0 vote to alter the rate for metered water customers.
No members of the public spoke at the Thursday afternoon meeting.
Information about how the additional money will be spent is outlined in this article.
STPUD must really have a budget problem over there. Most businesses don’t have the opportunity to have someone pay when they live beyond there means, they would just go under.
SO ABOUT 5 GALLONS OF GAS not bad considering the green yard and flowers will flourish…I JUST WISH spud could get the funny smell out the water,Reminds me those road side showers in Texas,kinda has a sulfur smell,chlorine smell,COMES,GOES.I’ve got a nose that can smell you across the table or bar,I know if you took a shower or had sex,didn’t changed your shorts.(hate that gift)must be the trex genes.
We never had that when we were hooked to the wells on Keller,Rocky-point,and it was softer.
GUESS SINCE NO ONE WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT RATES, THEY CAN START DRINKING STARBUCKS,PERSONAL I LIKE THE KONA BLENDS BOYS.
Have a Happy day at the plant,my payment in the mail.
Seemed certain after attending the May 3rd meeting; what wasn’t certain was the rational supporting the rate increase. In the 2 hour presentation preceding “public comment” I began hearing bits of other interests the revenue from the rate increases is intended for. While we are being told that “this law is equitable” and “the state is mandating water districts have meters in by 2025” I haven’t heard much else supporting that need to raise our water and sewer rates. It appears as if discussion of all the rational supporting a rate increase is being avoided. I expect full disclosure from a public agency serving the community I live in. Any less leads to distrust which is what I think the utility district is hearing. I know I am not satisfied!