The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority is raising their rates, Brandon Shulleeta reported in yesterday’s Daily Progress, a result of decreased water usage by citizens. RWSA’s rates are a function of their expenses—people using less water doesn’t significantly reduce the RWSA’s expenses, meaning that they’ve got to increase their rates to cover the difference. Ergo, they’re going to be charging Albemarle County 11.3% more for water and Charlottesville another 7.7%. Each locality will presumably be passing those costs onto customers, translating to a rate hike for everybody without their own well.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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So let me get this straight. They raised the rate because we were in a drought (to get people to conserve the water) and now they are charging because we dont’ use enough? Holy crap. What a bunch of bull! Make up your minds and stick with the story!
“We got to this point because we didn’t keep up with our infrastructure as well as we should have,” Palmer said of the rate increases.
Sooooo, we have to pay more because your dumbass top management people didn’t think it was in there best interest to update there infrastructure?
Great timing by the way (what with the economy and all)!!
Somehow supply and demand is backwards here. Normally when something is in heavy demand, price goes up. However, in this instance, when demand falls, price still goes up? This is frustrating.
I’ve called this play before.
And as I’ve also said- “There’s no reason to conserve water when everyone starts crying about a drought. Keep watering your lawn. And when the water authority finally raises rates because everyone’s conserving too much, at least my lawn is nice and green while everyone elses is yellow brown.”
This move by the RWSA proves me right.
This actually surprises anyone! This has been the SOP of water authorities for years. They don’t care how much water you use. Only that you use it. They always charge more when you use less and even more when you use more. This is not new.
This is ridiculous…the city has already been using the utility system to supplement their budget…they wanted people to reduce their consumption…that’s what they got!
That’s Bullshyte. Theft. I will not bend over again. Just cause I conserve does not mean they can rape me. Let them collect…from UVA!
Forget about needing money to repair their current infrastructure wait till they spend $200 million on NEW
INFRASTRUCTURE –you ain’t seen nothin yet
Rate Payer, RWSA already has a $30M pot that they acquired for Ragged Mtn beginning several years ago. About 70% of their budget is for debt service and future capital imporovement projects, the rest goes towards salaries and operations. The increases are not primarily due to maintaining the 30%, but building up the 70%. Gary O’Connell is known for stockpiling money from today’s residents to spend on future residents. He says that keeps the budgets from showing spikes in revenues which would cause the public to pay more attention to what government is doing.
Folks, we’re not doing our part for water use. Everybody walk straight into your bathrooms right now and leave the sink running for the rest of the day.
Don’t forget to leave the chemically treated drinking water hose on to water your lawn and garden