Staffers within City Hall are proposing significant utility rate increases for Santa Monicans because they say the money is running out. However, as they analyze the city budget prior to its adoption in June, City Council members are questioning why and if the rate increases are necessary.
Staff says solid-waste, water, wastewater and stormwater fund balances have been decreasing to varying degrees over the last four years. So, the costs are most likely going to be passed to the users.
So this week, Q-Line wants to know, “Do you support rate increases on your utility bills to restore the fund balances to healthy levels? How much are you willing to pay?”
Call (310) 285-8106 before Friday at 5 p.m. and we’ll print your responses in the weekend edition. Please try to limit your comments to a minute or less. It might help to think first about the wording of your response.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 31, 2005. Read the original PDF.