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Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:40 |
By DAVID FORBES
Citizens of Asheville may see their water rates drop ÇƒÓ while businesses may see theirs rise ÇƒÓ if a new proposal discussed by Asheville City Council on Aug. 15 for a uniform water rate is approved.
The proposal, brought forward by Councilman Brownie Newman, would charge every consumer of water the same for the same amount of water. Currently, Ashevilleës water department divides customers into different classes with different rates. The new rate would be phased in over several years.
"I support a uniform rate, I think its fair and it makes sense," Newman said. "Under this, water costs the same whoever uses it."
The proposal does however, make one exception. Manufacturers would retain their current, lower rate.
"We need to keep
the current rate structure for our manufacturing customers, due to the
importance of the jobs they provide and the difficulties theyëre facing
in our community," Newman noted.
However,
Councilman Jan Davis, who also owns and operates a tire store in
downtown, questioned the effect that such a change would have on
businesses.
"I see where
youëre coming from, I really do," Davis said. "I also think its
laudable to consider manufacturing. But the small businessperson is
going to have a big problem with this. This year weëve seen stormwater
bills, too ÇƒÓ and a capital improvement fee. We really use very little
water at my business ÇƒÓ and frankly, weëre paying a huge bill. On top of
all that, the business license fee is going up. It just seems like
every time I turn around thereës something else. Iëd like just a little
bit of a break."
The proposal will be formally voted on at a council meeting in September.
This is not the
first time the proposal has been debated by council. In June, Newman
and several supporters of the uniform rate wanted to make it part of
the cityës budget for the coming fiscal year.
However, Mayor
Terry Bellamy said at the time that while she would be willing to
consider the proposal later, she believed that adopting it so quickly,
with so many other issues at stake in the budget process was unwise,
and reached a compromise with Newman and the rateës supporters on
council to bring it back up this month.
Newmanës proposal drew support from some other members of council as well.
"I think it just
makes alot of sense," Councilman Bryan Freeborn said. "Whoever uses a
drop of water should pay for that drop of water the same. Same quality
water ¨?ÇƒÓ they should pay the same quality price. Thatës something we
definitely need to move towards."
Because the new uniform fee will be phased in, Freeborn said, businesses will have time to adapt to it.
"Should we just
drop this on businesses in one year? Absolutely not," Freeborn said.
"Since weëll phase this in over several years, businesses will have
time to plan for this. Looking at the amount that a single family is
going to save going to a uniform rate isnët significant enough to
justify doing it more quickly. I donët want to burden industry so I can
save a few bucks a month. But I think it is a fairness issue. We need
to find a reasonable time frame."
Agreeing with
Freebornës remarks, Councilwoman Robin Cape said another selling point
for a uniform rate is increased conservation.
"Now you will
make more of a difference in what your water costs," Cape said. "We can
be a partner with businesses in this community where we help them find
ways to save money on this. Itës cheaper to just use in the short term,
but not in the long term."
But Councilman Carl Mumpower cautioned his colleagues, echoing Davisë concerns.
"People are
already confused about this process, about all the new fees," Mumpower
said. "We havenët ironed out the issues with our capital improvement
fees yet. All of this needs to be tweaked and improved. It seems to be
prudent to avoid changing things right now. Weëre also in the midst of
serious water negotiations with the county and a lawsuit with the
state. Thereës alot of balls in the air. This is an issue where we need
to let things settle."
While
acknowledging Mumpowerës point, Newman said that council needed to move
forward with the uniform rate- and had been looking at it for some time.
"Letës not put
this off much longer," Newman said. "If we did decide to start moving
towards this, it would begin next budget cycle. Hopefully weëll see
some resolutions in the legal and negotiating process between now and
then."
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