Quote:
Originally Posted by MSchad
30% increase as of when? Do you have comparison figures for your claim?
And the developer has nothing to do with the water/sewage bill.
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The developer has more to do with the water/sewage bill than you are giving them credit for.
- the meters were chosen by the developer and installed by the developer then sold to the CDDs. I own my house and am responsible for my house but I did hammer one nail into the framing or the roof and I did not install one inch of water line, the developer did all that. If something goes wrong it is my responsibility to repair but I know who was involved in the initial construction. If there is something wrong with the meters, it wasn't the NSCUDD who selected the manufacturer.
- reading of the meters and sending out bills seems to be done through the VCCDD which is a board chosen by the developer. Yes, this simply could be taking advantage of resources that are already in place but it is still involvement by the developer.
- testing of meters seems to be done through the VCCDD also
- the water/sewer infrastructure was designed and built by the developer then sold to the CDDs
- the maintenance of the infrastructure became the responsibility of the CDDs after the system was purchased from the developer. The need for such a substantial rate increase so soon after purchase raises questions about the way the system was presented and the way the CDD was represented at the sale time. Certainly, everything may have been above board and it's just unfortunate that maintenance costs have increased, but it does raise questions.
- the pressure on the NSCUDD to raise rates seems to be coming from the VCCDD. Again, this may be due to an efficiency decision where NSCUDD utilizes District Staff rather than duplicating efforts, but it is still involvement by the developer
So no, the developer does not decree what my water/sewer rates will be. However, the developer did build and sell the infrastructure that my rates need to maintain and the developer is advising the NSCUDD that my rates need to increase.