Yes on Measure U: Cut water rates

<p>If Measure U passes, the city will go bankrupt! We will lay off police and fire personnel! Oh my, haven't we heard these scare tactics before? </p><p>Petaluma faces bankruptcy now, regardless of the outcome of Measure U. The failure of the City Council to manage its budget has created this dire financial state. What you haven't heard is that the sewer and water rates you have been paying are helping fund other departments that are short on money. That's money that legally should not be taken from your pocket. </p><p>Voting for U will rein in the waste and mismanagement that has been allowed to run rampant over Petaluma taxpayers. The City Council's approval of huge rate increases is hurting our community. What is more important, the financial security of the city, or the financial security of your family?</p><p>Over the last eight years, the city has illegally used $5 million dollars of wastewater fund monies to pay for the general fund expenditure of storm drain maintenance. Over the last six years, the city has charged the rate-payers an estimated $7.4 million in prohibited utility taxes, which their own consultant told them could not be justified. You pay for this with unjustifiable sewer rates.</p><p>Petaluma has spent its general fund reserves. And instead of addressing the real problem of poor management and excessive salaries and retirement benefits, the council has chosen to raid our wastewater fund to cover their general fund shortfall. Stealing from Peter (you) to pay Paul.</p><p>The city seeks to raise rates 100 percent over a five-year period during a recession. Wastewater revenues are doubling from $12 million per year in 2006 to $24 million per year in 2011. Is your water twice as good as it was in 2006? Why are we paying twice as much?</p><p>The city now intends to raise wastewater rates yet again and force us to pay to debt service an additional $50 million in revenue bonds to support future development. These rate increases includes new development of a pipeline to distribute wastewater contaminated with dangerous pharmaceuticals and personal care products to be used on our children's parks and playing fields (go to www.pffur.org and download the FDA warning paper).</p><p>Let's give the City Council a chance to review the wastewater budget and determine what can be cut or saved — just like you and I have to do in this recession. After that, the council can come back to the ratepayers and lay out the case that we need to raise rates again. The voters, not the politicians, should be able to decide if it is legitimately required. After all, we are the ones who have to pay for it. Measure U will afford the council this opportunity.</p><p>Petaluma has been in default for 10 years on the state loan for the marina. The city owes the state $7,017,973. Next, the council will want you and the other 18,000 ratepayers to pay an additional $390 on your next monthly water and sewer bill. And, if we don't agree, they will threaten to lay off police and fire!</p><p>Unless we vote “yes” on Measure U, it will continue to be open season to raise our rates, with no accountability. We pay for the service, we should have a say to control unnecessary spending.</p><p>Yes for U!</p><p><i>(Bryant Moynihan is the coordinator of Petalumans for Fair Utility Rates.)</i></p><p>If Measure U passes, the city will go bankrupt! We will lay off police and fire personnel! Oh my, haven't we heard these scare tactics before? </p><p>Petaluma faces bankruptcy now, regardless of the outcome of Measure U. The failure of the City Council to manage its budget has created this dire financial state. What you haven't heard is that the sewer and water rates you have been paying are helping fund other departments that are short on money. That's money that legally should not be taken from your pocket. </p><p>Voting for U will rein in the waste and mismanagement that has been allowed to run rampant over Petaluma taxpayers. The City Council's approval of huge rate increases is hurting our community. What is more important, the financial security of the city, or the financial security of your family?</p><p>Over the last eight years, the city has illegally used $5 million dollars of wastewater fund monies to pay for the general fund expenditure of storm drain maintenance. Over the last six years, the city has charged the rate-payers an estimated $7.4 million in prohibited utility taxes, which their own consultant told them could not be justified. You pay for this with unjustifiable sewer rates.</p><p>Petaluma has spent its general fund reserves. And instead of addressing the real problem of poor management and excessive salaries and retirement benefits, the council has chosen to raid our wastewater fund to cover their general fund shortfall. Stealing from Peter (you) to pay Paul.</p><p>The city seeks to raise rates 100 percent over a five-year period during a recession. Wastewater revenues are doubling from $12 million per year in 2006 to $24 million per year in 2011. Is your water twice as good as it was in 2006? Why are we paying twice as much?</p><p>The city now intends to raise wastewater rates yet again and force us to pay to debt service an additional $50 million in revenue bonds to support future development. These rate increases includes new development of a pipeline to distribute wastewater contaminated with dangerous pharmaceuticals and personal care products to be used on our children's parks and playing fields (go to www.pffur.org and download the FDA warning paper).</p><p>Let's give the City Council a chance to review the wastewater budget and determine what can be cut or saved — just like you and I have to do in this recession. After that, the council can come back to the ratepayers and lay out the case that we need to raise rates again. The voters, not the politicians, should be able to decide if it is legitimately required. After all, we are the ones who have to pay for it. Measure U will afford the council this opportunity.</p><p>Petaluma has been in default for 10 years on the state loan for the marina. The city owes the state $7,017,973. Next, the council will want you and the other 18,000 ratepayers to pay an additional $390 on your next monthly water and sewer bill. And, if we don't agree, they will threaten to lay off police and fire!</p><p>Unless we vote “yes” on Measure U, it will continue to be open season to raise our rates, with no accountability. We pay for the service, we should have a say to control unnecessary spending.</p><p>Yes for U!</p><p><i>(Bryant Moynihan is the coordinator of Petalumans for Fair Utility Rates.)</i></p>