By Randy Kugler
An anonymous individual or group has mailed a postcard to voters urging a YES vote on Referendum 29-179 to maintain the City’s monthly water billing.
I have attempted to raise questions on this matter using the explanations given by City officials, City Budget numbers, and an option for water infrastructure funding using Transient Lodging Tax revenue to create a billing and water infrastructure funding solution that prioritizes the interests of full time residents including seniors on fixed incomes and families.
I alway put my name on what I write and accept responsibility for my communications with Manzanita citizens. It would be naive to believe that this unsigned mailing was done without the knowledge and support of the City.
The actual experience with monthly billing as posted on the 10/25 BBQ and Tillamook County Pioneer entitled Do Billing Cycles Matter? at https://tinyurl.com/4fp5es4j should cause voters to again question both what City officials and their anonymous supporters are telling us.
As the example in this post confirms, monthly billing combined with a tiered rate structure for exceeding your 2,000 base allotment can indeed result in a higher annual water bill. Quarterly billing at least provides the opportunity for customers to avoid monthly tier charges resulting in lower annual water costs. If you want to preserve this opportunity, you will need to vote NO and return us to quarterly billing.
Remember the concern that then Councilor Jena Edginton voiced when the Council was discussing this matter in May 2023. “I don’t want to increase the rates for full time residents, one to two people living in their home”. What Councilor Edginton wanted to avoid has become a reality for many and no anonymous mailings urging voters to ignore what we have been told by City officials is going to change the impact on the cost of water for full time residents.
Randy Kugler
