City Council, please do not approve a rate increase for water, or at least do not approve one without going to the voters. Consideration for another rate increase is completely unreasonable.
There are for sure other means to acquire the funds necessary (i.e. rates based on usage or tiered charges based on consumption – see the city of Los Angles) rather than increasing rates on property owners. Our rates are more expensive than some metropolitan areas (Los Angles: Tier 1 Residential base charge is $6.53 during summer months) which Durango is not, and will never be even with current projected census numbers.
The double-speak of needing more affordable housing is absurd when conversations like this are still occurring.
To Councilors Kim Baxter and Barbara Noseworthy: You ran on transparency for the council and making Durango a viable place for everyone to live. Some of us voted in your favor in hopes of a clean slate because of the previous council’s failed policies and lack of consideration for the community.
Don’t continue down their path. Listen to the community this time.
Trey Peterson
Durango
