Bureaucrats enact onerous rates, rules and bylaws--often hastily approved by politicians--until one day taxpayers protest the gouging and smoke 'n mirrors.
Seems bureaucrats are ensuring they have everything both ways: conserve a resource, but increase its price to keep revenues up.
And on and on it goes.
"...wallets and bank accounts are
comparable to a non-renewable resource"
Donald Craig is one such local taxpayer.
His letter to the editor of the Morning Star, August 15, 2014 is printed here.
It mirrors the opinion of many, many people today.
"Is this a trick or a joke that The Morning Star recently had on the front page "Saving Water - Local Politicians urge residents to reduce consumption" and then page A5 says "...more usage than sustainable..."
What am I missing here? Last year when my family along with many others conserved as much water as possible your water revenues went down and you our leaders raised our water rates 25 per cent. Then you tell us that we need to vote on borrowing $70 million to upgrade our water systems after borrowing millions for the Duteau source upgrades.
Don't tell me anymore what I and the public need to do -- show us through leadership what you are doing besides asking for more money when all that seems to be happening is unreasonable debt loads placed on our cities, towns and province.
"making...billing fair and achievable"
What are you our elected officials doing about conserving water -- have you turned off the rooftop fountain across from the courthouse?
Have you quit watering rarely used fields now that their usage is down? Have you considered making your conservation tier levels on billing fair and achievable for those of us on meters -- upping to tier two after only 10 cubic meters is that real or attainable?
Your own website suggests that those on water meters are more likely to conservate than those that aren't -- put us all on meters just like BC Hydro is dong with smart meters.
Show us the people how you achieve your averages on your new "Make Water Work" website. Define what is an average Canadian family? What numbers are you using to calculate that my family fits into your 675 litres of consumption per person per day? How can I be so different from the average Canadian family when my backyard is all dead and full of thistles?
"Unrealistic debt, unrealistic taxes, unrealistic utility fees
are not a legacy I wish to leave..."
While water is not a renewable resource I fully support conservation and sustainability. But what I do not support and what is also not sustainable is the debt our elected and non-elected officials locally and provincially are borrowing on our behalf.
While you all continue to raise our debt load, water rates, utility rates, taxes etc., you seek higher wages for your great efforts. Most people's wallets and bank accounts are comparable to a non-renewable resource and around here I am thinking this resource should be considered more often by our elected officials.
Unrealistic debt, unrealistic taxes, unrealistic utility fees are not a legacy I wish to leave behind to our children and grandchildren. Lead from the top as you have been elected or appointed to do -- don't expect more wages for more debt, quit watering all of our parks (and rooftops), quit asking for more money -- politicians you need to be part of the solution through leadership. " Donald Craig
"No argument from me," sighs Kia.
Let's have bureaucrats take Pledge 7...fair and accountable is a good start.
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