TO THE EDITOR: Readers speak out about SR rate increases

<p class="bold allcaps">Replace council</p> <p>EDITOR: Regarding the water and sewer rate hikes approved by Santa Rosa City Council members: Vote them out at the next election.</p><p>It is obvious that they are out of touch with the realities of the current economy and their constituents. Vote them out and vote individuals in who can handle the job without automatically taking rate increases as they have done over the years.</p><p>Enough of these continuing increases, the citizens of Santa Rosa should take charge at the next election and vote in individuals that care about the citizens of this great city.</p><p>PATRICK SHERRON</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Cut costs</h3> <p>EDITOR: We use less water and pay more. Even gas prices have come down because we are using less.</p><p>My suggestion would be: The Board of Public Utilities, the Sonoma County Water Agency, The Geysers wastewater-to-electricity system and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board have their labor and benefit contracts immediately reduced to align with the current revenue and reduced further if revenues continue to decline.</p><p>Labor contracts and benefit packages are based on a growing business or economy. Our economy is not only not growing, it is shrinking.</p><p>Everyone of us is, in some way, struggling. If this community is being forced to eat humble pie, why would a few not have to eat it?</p><p>NEAL WEEKS</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Conserve more</h3> <p>EDITOR: My husband and I own a condominium in Sebastopol and a small cabin in the mountains by Serene Lakes. To all of the people complaining about water and sewer rates take note: Our Sebastopol water and sewer rates seem very reasonable at approximately $50 per month for both sewer and water, which works out to a little more than $600 per year.</p><p>Yes, we do our best at water conservation because it is the right thing to do. However, at our cabin we do not have water meters and everyone is charged the same whether or not you use the water and sewer. We are only there about two months every year, and our rates are $1,827 per year, or about $155 per month. So when you think you are paying too much, think again.</p><p>I have inquired as to why it is that we are not metered, and I was told that the cost of water is not the problem, but taking care of the infrastructure is costly. So try to be happy you are not out of water because there is not enough, and you do not have to pay the same as everyone else for less used. Therefore, try conserving more.</p><p>JOY LANGWORTHY</p><p><i>Sebastopol</i></p><h3>Excessive rates</h3> <p>EDITOR: The Press Democrat's history of water and sewer rates in Santa Rosa, dating back to the year 2000, show an average well over 9 percent per year. Clearly, this greatly exceeds the rate of inflation. In fact, the proposed increase of 7 percent for the year 2010 will be in sharp contrast to deflation of about 1.5 percent.</p><p>In my opinion, this punitive increase in our water and sewer rates cannot be justified. Additionally, it doesn't just affect homeowners. It punishes the hundreds of small businesses in the city by driving up consumer prices. In particular, it penalizes the restaurant, hotel and hospitality industry we so desperately need to survive in this city.</p><p>Has anyone bothered to correlate the number of businesses (jobs) that have vacated Santa Rosa because of the high cost of doing business here? Here is an example of our business. In 2000, we paid about $400 a month for water and sewer. We are currently paying more than $800 and will apparently be paying nearly $900 next year. Please take pause and rescind this outrageous rate increase.</p><p>MARY JO WISELY</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>No reason to save</h3> <p>EDITOR: For many months, I have been doing everything possible to save water. Now that it's raining, I use water from the kitchen sink and bath tub to flush my toilet. During the summer, I hauled those buckets out to water the shrubs in my yard. My water use last month was only 1,000 gallons, yet my bill (plus that of the water-conserving tenants in my duplex) was almost $90.</p><p>The message the city is sending is that saving water doesn't reduce the cost. The city needs to do something to give ratepayers an incentive to save water.</p><p>If it doesn't matter how much we save, the message is that conserving is not worth the trouble.</p><p>MARLENE LILY</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p>