Fixed water rates will double in woodland

Woodland residents' water rates will more than double over the next few years, after the Woodland City Council voted unanimously to adopt a water rate increase.

[Huh]

While I admit there may be a few water wasters around, for the most part I think people try to conserve. I would like to see an independent study (donated) to see how much we use now and how much we use after they install all this (expensive) crap. I am also sure if they told us exactly how many signatures we needed we could come up with them. This is their way of (we need to upgrade the system) increase fees and not stop spending.
Maybe they could come up with the money to fix the system (if it even needs fixing) by cutting some of the fat from their own bloated governmental body!!!! What's next the aging gas lines or street lights, maybe they will need to build a new courthouse - Oh wait they are already designing the county Taj Mahal on our dime.
This has got to stop and soon, what happens when they raise fees to the point where everyone has to move out of Woodland because we can't afford to live here - where will their cash cow be then.....

[Intelligent]

Oh come on! Infrastructure ages and Woodland's infrastructure is ancient. Secondly, they are passing on costs that were mandated by the State Legislature, so if you're mad go to Sacramento and complain. And the "county Taj Mahal" by which I can only assume you mean the courthouse (Hint: It's the State's not the county's) will be paid for by the State. The City was also explicit about the number of signatures. Why, given that your insurance costs go up, gas goes up, food goes up,do folks like you act like the cost for govt. services should never increase? It doesn't make any sense, and yes, I pay them the same as you do.

[Woodlander 4 Long Time]

Metered water is mandated by the State. You can't stop it by "getting signatures". Woodland's antiquated infrastructure problem is not going away; it has to be fixed and maintained for health and safety reasons.

To "Huh" - I doubt people will have to move away from Woodland because they can't afford to live here. Where would you go where you'd get a bargain on water rates? Have you ever lived in the East Bay? My friends have to save up $$ over the year to afford to water their lawns in summer. Woodland has been a bargain basement for so many years for water rates. It's time to pay the piper, so to speak.

And btw - water is an enterprise fund - has nothing to do with gas lines, streetlights, Taj Mahal or whatever. Like the sewer and storm drains - the enterprise must pay for itself. Costs go up - then rates should go up.

[Mad as Hell]

Can't wait to vote these idiots out of office.

[Woodland conservative]

If you want to start a ballot initiative I'm sure the folks at City Hall will give you the information, and go right ahead, you might even succeed at a cost of several thousand taxpayer $'s, and we'll still pay at some point, and the amount will increase. If it's not in water fees it will be in some other tax. The infrastructure is old and needs repacement.

It was the City Councils in the past who neglected the system and had priorities other than maintaining the city utilities, even though we elect them to do that and provide police and fire, not everything else they decide they have to do.

Stinks, but there is nothing we can do to fix it.

[Whatever]

Can't get storm drain fees from residents so lets double the water bill

[Whatever]

I have to think the reference to "Taj Mahal" is referring to our lovely and expensive Community Center with it's nice digital sign.

[Huh]

Woodlander 4 Long Time wrote:

Metered water is mandated by the State. You can't stop it by "getting signatures". Woodland's antiquated infrastructure problem is not going away; it has to be fixed and maintained for health and safety reasons.
To "Huh" - I doubt people will have to move away from Woodland because they can't afford to live here. Where would you go where you'd get a bargain on water rates? Have you ever lived in the East Bay? My friends have to save up $$ over the year to afford to water their lawns in summer. Woodland has been a bargain basement for so many years for water rates. It's time to pay the piper, so to speak.
And btw - water is an enterprise fund - has nothing to do with gas lines, streetlights, Taj Mahal or whatever. Like the sewer and storm drains - the enterprise must pay for itself. Costs go up - then rates should go up.

East Bay - are you a fireman, comparing Woodland to the East Bay, c'mon the wages there are quite a bit different then what we are use to getting around here. I see let's compare Woodland to the highest rate payers around the state and say - See how much these people pay - we should too. Just like when the FD needs a raise they don't compare themselves to apple/apple cities they look at the highest paid departments and say this is what we deserve. As far as the new courthouse(Taj Mahal)are you crazy where do you people think the state gets the money? ME AND YOU

I like to see all these comments about how we will just have to bite the bullet and pay the higher fees - I still think they could come up with the money for all these things by cutting spending on things they don't need - I just read an article on how many state vehicles are sitting around (CalTrans) Why? Did they really need them? Spend Spend Spend let's all sing along.....

[Huh]

Intelligent wrote:

Oh come on! Infrastructure ages and Woodland's infrastructure is ancient. Secondly, they are passing on costs that were mandated by the State Legislature, so if you're mad go to Sacramento and complain. And the "county Taj Mahal" by which I can only assume you mean the courthouse (Hint: It's the State's not the county's) will be paid for by the State. The City was also explicit about the number of signatures. Why, given that your insurance costs go up, gas goes up, food goes up,do folks like you act like the cost for govt. services should never increase? It doesn't make any sense, and yes, I pay them the same as you do.

Intelligent - Where do you think the state gets its money.

[Beamer and Cottonwood]

Whatever wrote:

I have to think the reference to "Taj Mahal" is referring to our lovely and expensive Community Center with it's nice digital sign.

This is Taj Mahal I @ corner of Beamer & Cottonwood, Belongs to Matt and the Coffee Cart Kids.

Taj Mahal II belongs to the City of Woodland, but no one is allowed to play without pay.

[Catfish]

Watch what happens. The meters will go in. Water consumption will go down. They won't be making enough money. They will scream poverty and raise the rates...............again.

[Intelligent]

Huh! I know where the State gets its money. Do you? In my experience you rarely do. The State and the City of Woodland are two separate organizations. The City has no authority over the State. And for Woodland Conservative, those prior councils did a fairly good job in managing the City. Remember, they had their recessions and tax takeaways by the State too. I even remember when, in the 90's rates were actually reduced! Did you notice? Nope. So try to be a little less glib and a little better informed.

[Woodlander 4 Long Time]

Intelligent wrote:

. And for Woodland Conservative, those prior councils did a fairly good job in managing the City. Remember, they had their recessions and tax takeaways by the State too.

I will agree with you on most points, Intelligent. However, I will take issue with the Councils of the early 90's. For whatever reasons, they took no notice whatsoever of the rising costs and the static revenue collections for the enterprise funds. The water and sewer rates had to finally be altered by the negative votes in the early 2000's (prop 218 rules)to bring revenues up.(Storm drain revenues could not be altered by the negative votes - have to be a 67% positive vote.) This really was a travesty for the infrastructures. Citizens of Woodland need to know that what they pay for water, sewer and storm drains do not translate to the "bloated government" that another poster inferred. Those fees directly pay for the costs of operations. I do not feel that those prior councils and City management of those years had the guts to face these issues with the citizenry.

[wondering13]

I wonder whats going to happen to all the rural residents? do they think that they are going to put the farmers and all the country people on water meters too?

[El Tigere]

Amazing... our bills will double, but no mention of $$$ amounts are mentioned. Nice reporting DD.

[Huh]

Intelligent wrote:

Huh! I know where the State gets its money. Do you? In my experience you rarely do. The State and the City of Woodland are two separate organizations. The City has no authority over the State. And for Woodland Conservative, those prior councils did a fairly good job in managing the City. Remember, they had their recessions and tax takeaways by the State too. I even remember when, in the 90's rates were actually reduced! Did you notice? Nope. So try to be a little less glib and a little better informed.

I know they are separate organizations - I still want to know where you think the state gets its money? Who cares if it is state or local its still comes out of our pocket and I honestly think we don't need it - If they spent the money teaching parents how to control their kids the court system would be less crowded - no need for a shiny new courthouse.