HP: Water Rate Increases in February
At a council meeting this week, the Highland Park Town Council approved changes to the “master-fee schedule” for water usage. The new structure includes a $1.00 increase in the monthly base rate, and increases the rates for consumption as seen below.
“Highland Park has taken a leadership role in water conservation,” Mayor Joel Williams said. “We’ve made progress every year since 2011, but we can and should do more.”
So here’s the new, four-tiered water rate scale:
- 0-12,000 gallons = $4.56 per thousand gallons
- 12,001-30,000 gallons = $5.24 per thousand gallons
- 30,001-60,000 gallons = $6.29 per thousand gallons
- More than 60,000 gallons = $8.18 per thousand gallons
The new rates also include an increase in the wastewater monthly cost of $2.50 per month. The changes will go into effect for the Feb. 27 billing cycle.
I can only chuckle…. If the HP Mayor and town council really want to do more, then please pick up the plastic trash that has been sitting in and around Hackberry Creek @ Highland Dr. for many months.
How hard is it to take notice for the clean care of our town. Too busy overcharging for your bloated services.
Honesty and Transparency would have been the better alternative by HP officials and council, than to push a “Backdoor Tax” on the residents of Highland Park. Mayor Williams and the HP Council claim we have to “do more.” So how is taxing the residents each and every month (and indefinite years to come) through water bill rate increases “doing more?”
Personally, I believe most residents have done a great deal regarding water conservation to date. So the Mayor and town council push (and I mean push) more penalties and taxes and punish residents who have done a great deal already? It is kind of hard for me not to chuckle at some folks at town hall who I believe “play” the environment card simply to rob taxpayers of more money. Anyone who would allow an airplane to spray “mosquito poison” and forced upon and on, private property owners, is not an environmental caring group (my opinion).
Why should any resident pay for increased water rates because HP Town Council can’t get their spending under control, and allow more taxation, then to only mismanage the new water revenue? And you folks who run our HP government claim to be conservative Republicans? If a Democrat increased any tax, Republicans quickly become public opponents. Where is the water tax rate increase outrage in HP?
It’s shameful and sad that so much mismanagement of our town’s money is allowed, and the millions overspent on town hall (and can anyone at HP town hall explain why the HP DPS information room also serves as the only direct hallway to the main admin. building?, is this for real???). If the town needs more money, then I guess a better alternative needs to be addressed then to sack the folks of HP for more money.