The WR [Water Resources] Department has a capital plan,
that includes pay as you go capital, bond capital, and operating expense.
We also have a rate plan to pay for it all,
which included a ~6% increase January 1, 2010.
Being told that this was unacceptable
by some members of Council,
we submitted two alternates,
reduce rehab work or take the cash from retained earnings.
The latter was selected
…Council will have to make a decision soon,
to award a contract and funding,
of replacement of the ~$23 million Fluid Bed Incinerator [FBI]
at TZ Osborne Water Reclamation Facility
The bond funding of it is in the plan, and if it is awarded
it is likely that Council will need to commit to a rate increase
in early FY 10-11,
of about 10%.
While the specific project (FBI)
was not discussed in detail at the meetings,
the requirement to have a larger increase later,
if the 6% was not accepted now,
was communicated in both briefings.
Allan Williams
Director of Water Resources
City of Greensboro
If Greensboro’s City Council
agreed a couple of weeks before the 2009-10 budget vote,
in an election year,
to back a proposed water rate increase,
how many were aware of the longer term
post-election consequences, of prioritizing want before need?
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