Sewer rates to rise 9.9%.The New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Water Board voted last week to raise sewer rates 9.9 percent beginning July 10. The increase would be felt by property owners paying water and sewer bills as well as those paying only sewer charges. Owner groups were outraged by the close to double digit Noun 1. double digit - a two-digit integer; from 10 to 99 integer, whole number - any of the natural numbers (positive or negative) or zero; "an integer is a number that is not a fraction" increase, which will amount to nearly a 200 percent increase over the last few years. John J. Gilbert, president of the Rent Stabilization Stabilization The action undertakes a country when it buys and sells its own currency to protect its exchange value. Actions registered competitive traders undertake by on the NYSE to meet the exchange requirement that 75% of their traded be stabilizing, meaning that sell orders Association, said there is no accountability for where this money is going. "The increases are outrageous," Gilbert said, "and property owners should not be the only entities underwriting Underwriting 1. The process by which investment bankers raise investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities (both equity and debt). 2. The process of issuing insurance policies. these dramatic increases. This is a sure fire way to drive people out of business." William Kusterbeck, director of the Office of Financial Management of the DEP DEP Deposit DEP Deputy DEP Department of Environmental Protection DEP Dependent DEP Departure DEP Depot DEP Deposition DEP deployed (US DoD) DEP Data Execution Prevention (computer security) and treasurer of the Water Board said the increase is needed and the board is obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. by law to provide these rates. "It has no discretion over raising the proper amount of money but does have discretion over the calculation of the increase," he said. The increase will be for city customers only as suburban rates are set at separate hearing. Right now the sewer rate is 136 percent of water, explained Kusterbeck. The increase is calculated by increasing it to 159 percent of the water changes. "There is no increase in water rates and, if they are a water only customer, there will be no increase, but a sewer customer would pay more," he added. Mary Ann Rothman, executive director of the Council of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Cooperatives said the water and sewer bills are consuming an increasing part of operating budgets Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. for their member buildings. "We had been geared to expect a double digit increase so there is a certain sense of relief in seeing that the Department is sensitive to our desperate cries for help." The prediction last summer was an 18 percent rise and by March it was down to a 14 percent increase, she said. Dan Margulies, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) said they advocated a rate freeze based on the fact that there has been more than a 200 percent increase since 1986. "Recognizing the costs are out of control I urged them to freeze the rates to focus the attention of the city and state governments on the need for relief," he said. While Margulies agrees there may be a need for additional revenues, he said the rate payers cannot afford it. "We must look to the governments to reduce operation costs and look to the state which sets mandates for water quality and treatment to reduce those mandates or the cost of those mandates and provide whatever financial assistance that they can because the rate payers simply can't absorb these double digit increases, he said. One has to suspect it isn't 10 percent for political reasons," he noted wryly wry adj. wri·er or wry·er, wri·est or wry·est 1. Dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony. 2. . "It may be a 99 cent sale but we know it costs a buck." |
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