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From the
Daily News:
New York’s top court gave its legal blessing Tuesday to Mayor de Blasio’s plan to give homeowners a $183 credit on their water and sewer bills.
In a 5-2 decision, the Court of Appeals overturned two lower court rulings and declared the Water Board can give the credit to a select group of customers.
“It is clear from the governing statutes that water and sewer rates may be determined in accordance with public policy goals and not only economic goals,” Judge Eugene Fahey wrote for the majority.
“The court’s decision clears the way for the Water Board to provide welcome financial relief for more than 664,000 New York homeowners,” de Blasio said.
From the
Daily News:
The Department of Environmental Protection proposed a 3.35% water rate increase on Wednesday for fiscal year 2015, the lowest raise since fiscal 2006.
That means a typical single-family homeowner will see an increase from $992 a year to $1,025 a year for their water and sewer bills, and a typical multi-family home with metered billing will see a bump from $645 a year to $666 per year in their bills.
The Water Board is expected to approve the increase May 23, and hearings will be held in each borough in May. The changes are due to take effect this summer.
Water bills have shot up 78% since 2005. They went up 5.6% last year and 7% the year before that, after double-digit spikes from 2008 through 2010 during the Bloomberg administration.
From the
Daily News:
City environmental honchos want to water-board New Yorkers yet again, saying they will propose Friday a 7% hike to water rates that have skyrocketed 78% since 2005.
The city downplayed the proposed soaking by describing it as not as bad as in recent fiscal years — and well under the 9.3% bump the Department of Environmental Protection projected just a year ago.
“This is the lowest water rate increase in seven years,” DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov said.
“While we know that it is extremely difficult for our customers to have to pay any more, the downward trend clearly shows that our aggressive efforts to keep rates in check are paying off.”
This fiscal year’s rate was already 7.5% above that of last year, which itself was 12.9% more than the previous year.
But some city residents were fed up over word the city was going into their pockets again — and the Daily News was barred by a city agreement from even specifying what the rise would be until Friday.
“It’s getting ridiculous,” said Bill Clemente, 71, who owns a home in Howard Beach, Queens.
“You won’t be able to have swimming pools. You won’t be able to water your lawn. You won’t be able to shower as often.”
He even said a worst-case scenario could be in play for him: “Ultimately, we may have to sell the house and move out of the city.”
