Vote ‘yes’ on Paso water rate increase

The city has made an excellent case for why an increase in rates is necessary for future

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If you are one of the 4,000 or so Paso Robles residents who have already cast a ballot in to-day’s special election on water rates, congratulations! Your job is done. If you haven’t yet voted — and as of Monday morning, approximately 10,000 of you had not — this is your last opportunity.

We strongly urge you to go to the polls today and vote yes on Measure A-09, which will authorize the city to raise water rates to finance its share of the Nacimiento Water Project.

We believe the city has made an excellent case for why these rate increases are necessary.

Years ago, city leaders had the foresight to assure that future generations would have an adequate water supply by agreeing to participate in the Nacimiento Water Project. Now, the bill is coming due. If voters don’t approve the increase, the city still will have to pay its share of costs, to the tune of around $5.2 million per year.

Without an additional source of revenue, within a few years the city will have to dip into the general fund to subsidize the Nacimiento project. That means other services—police, fire, parks and recreation, roads, to name a few—will suffer.

While no one likes to see their bills go up, we believe the city has worked hard to develop a rate structure that will not pose a financial burden on residents.

For a typical family of four that currently pays $43 per month for water, the bill will go up to $50 in January— an increase of just $7. By 2014, monthly rates for that same family of four will be roughly $68—an increase of $25 over the current rate.

Under the circumstances, we believe that approving the water rate increases should be a slam-dunk. Yet a small group opposing the increases — Concerned Citizens of Paso Robles — has been attempting to block the city’s efforts at every turn, both by going to court and by circulating petitions.

That’s certainly their right. However, we wonder how much “concern” this single-issue group really has for Paso Robles when its actions could force the city to dip into its general fund to pay for a vitally necessary water project.

We believe the majority of Paso Robles residents have the foresight to appreciate how important it is to have a dependable supply of water not only for themselves, but also for future generations.

We also are convinced that a majority of residents is willing to pay a reasonable price for that security.

Now, it’s time to send a clear message of support for the city’s commitment to its current and future citizens: Vote yes on Measure A-09.

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