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| Photo by JQ LLC |
Mayor Eric Adams plans to implement what critics claim is a “hidden tax” that would make homeowners’ water bills soar 8.5% – despite boasting his new budget plan won’t include more taxes.
The city plans to charge its own Water Board at least $1.4 billion in rent over four years to lease water and sewer systems, The New York Times first reported.
In turn, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection wants the Water Board to raise rates in July for homeowners and landlords by 8.5%, according to a proposal released Friday by the board.
If approved, the rate increase would only cover some of the rent charges, with the rest likely picked up by funds that usually cover water and sewer system capital project upgrades.
Owners of single-family homes pay $1,088 on average for water each year, and the proposal would add on nearly another $100 a year, according to the city.
Councilman James Gennaro (D-Queens), who chairs the Committee on Environmental Protection, said the city is bringing back a “hidden tax” that was implemented in 1985 and used for decades until then-Mayor Bill de Blasio discarded it seven years ago.
He added the old “budget trick” might be legal — but it doesn’t make it fair.
“It’s using water and sewer monies to pay for parts of city government and services that have nothing to do with water and sewers,” he told The Post Saturday.
Landlords usually pay for water but pass along the cost to tenants in their monthly rents, making the plan nothing more than a regressive tax that will ultimately hurt low-income households the most since, they historically use more water than average New Yorkers, according to critics
3 comments:
Many low tax states make up their money in various fees, but of couse NY/NYC is worst as the higher taxes don't negate higher fees or lower other taxes. As far as regressive, yes it can be but its mostly the middle income and perhaps low income elderly homeowners who will bear the brunt as tenants aren't usually billed for water. Theoritcally, they can be billed or LL can raise prices, but many tenants protected against increases.
Reminds me of bloomy's property tax hike in early 2000s. Ironically, many of the wealthy who hardly live in their homes won't see any meaningful increase. Congestion pricing and stock market taxes are another scam, when folks point out that other countries have it, that's true but they have lower taxes and efficient spending. Even higher tax european countries spend money efficiently to deliver services.
Water doesn't grow on trees, you know.
Drink gasoline. It's cheaper.
At least nobody was misgendered.
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