Another increase in
utility fees coming in January and July 2016. Milpitas council already approved a utility fee increase on August
4, raising the water fee from $2.62 to $3.62 even though council members were aware
that the city was going to hire a consultant to evaluate the water fees. On Oct 6 Milpitas approved a new utility notice.
In August I asked why you’re approving a fee increase when you’re going to
reevaluate the fees with the consultant. I got no answer as usual. The new notice will not disclose the city new bond purchase.
Bartle Wells Associates was hired at a cost of $60,000
because of the San Jan Capistrano court case. The Capistrano residents
were overcharged for water and sued the city and won the case.
The consultant advised city of Milpitas
to increase the water fees even more by doubling the Capital Improve budget
from $22 million to $42 million and take out a $25.54 million dollar bond for financing more projects. The
city council members liked the idea so we are going to get a new notice for
utility fees in November. The council members never want to miss an opportunity to raise
your fees/ taxes. The city just wasted $10,000 for mailing out the last notice. The cost for the $25.54 million dollar bond
at 4.25% interest is $1,522,139 every year for next 30 years, which is
$45,664,170 to repay the bond with interest. This is not disclosed in your new water utility notice.
Starting in January your water fee will be $4.75 for all parcels, except
Ed Leven Park at $3.75, followed in July with $5.13 but that still not enough
to pay for bond and capital improvements projects (CIP) so additional charge of
$1.30 called “portable capital surcharge” will be added to your July utility
water bill, for a total of $6.43 an increase of 145.42% or 2.45 times the current fee. Your water bill will increase by 8%
every following year. Bond and CIP
charges make Milpitas the highest paying water
utility bill in Santa Clara
County. Milpitas
already has the highest sewer charges in Santa Clara County. The city CIP includes supply
augmentation (digging for wells) cost $10 million at Dempsey RW $4.5 M,
Yosemite RW 3.3 M and Landess RW 2.2 Million and Curiis well 3.3 Million in additional to the $1.3 million already spent for this well. The
city thinks it can drill it way out of the water crises. Apparently the city
never head about subsidence, which is when you pump water out of the ground and
the ground sinks. Annually the city take out $2.61 million out of
the water fund to put in the general fund for administration costs
reimbursement and will increasing that
amount at 4% every year and of course
there are additional personal services that costs of $2.7 million. I looks like the city has add an new source of revenue for he general fund. These fund are supposed to be separate. Is the city is pilfering the water fund? The planning commission approved another 1,069 on Oct 28. The city has already approved over 2,000 this year but that not enough for the city. We have a water shortage but The city wants more more revenue by increasing the number of parcels. It your job to conserve water not the city's job. Anyone want to drink recycled tolite water? Sorry that comming soon.
Next year vote for
new council members such as myself to prevent you from being overcharged for
services. Your new notice will
be coming in your mail so please send in your protest letter and let the
council member know you’re not happy with the new charges by indicating the
following in your letter:
Date
_____________________
I protest the proposed fee increase for utilities.
Name _____________________________
Address or parcel id _____________________________
____________________________
Signature _____________________________
