Taxpayer group opposes wastewater rate rollback

<p>The Sonoma Taxpayers Association has announced that it opposes Petaluma's Measure U, a ballot initiative to lower wastewater rates.</p><p>The group, which normally advocates for lower taxes, said that their decision to oppose the measure was made “primarily due to the fact that the treatment facility has been built, financial obligations are in place, and that rolling back rates to the January 2006 level would place Petaluma in a deeper fiscal morass then it is currently experiencing.”</p><p>Wastewater rates were raised for Petaluma residents over the last few years to help pay for the Ellis Creek wastewater facility, which was built to replace to aging Hopper Street facility.</p><p>The group said it spoke with Bryant Moynihan, the head of Yes on Measure U, and Councilmember Mike Healy, head of No on Measure U, before making its decision. The group said it is “sympathetic” to those trying to reduce rates to force the city to control costs, but that in this case, the initiative would be too harmful to the city.</p><p> — Argus-Courier Staff</p>