Annually, the board notifies the public of proposed rates for the upcoming year and conducts a hearing to solicit public comment. Never in its history, however, has the water board told the public of projected rates over five years. This information is contained only within the bond prospectus. We support that objective and are aware that to accomplish these goals it sometimes requires rates to go up. But by not disclosing this information, it undercuts public support.
Secrecy breeds skepticism.
If these increases are necessary, the Water Board needs to make its case openly. McCaffrey and Provenzano are recommending that with the next series of water bills, the board should make a commitment to disclose the proposed increases over the next five years. Eight times in the past 12 years, property owners have seen a rise in the price they pay for water. If the five-year projected rates come to fruition, it will mean that by 2003 homeowners will pay 90 percent more for water than they did in 1986. Despite the increase, the Council members contend that the quality of customer service remains poor.