[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by rubicon

mixsonci: Every suggestion preceding this post was on point. However, I am probably the only resident who believes we are being overcharged for water.
The water bill is such that there is a base charge for water and irrigation. On top of that is a three tier rating system not found in other water districts in florida. There are other fixed fees in this bill that make no sense

If the water district believes that people who use more water should pay more that is fine. However then why do they still charge a base fee?

I went two months not using my irrigation with no leaks as verified by Jim B and yet had appreciable charges each month, Just like cable companies, telephone companies and the like this utility has a monopoly and it is milking it for everything it is worth. the problem is they can and they can because no one around here complains. And no one complains because if they did residents would complain about their complaining

No, you are not the only one who thinks we are being overcharged. I have lived in more places than I have fingers and I have never had a water bill where I've had two separate water meters and the cost is different for inside and outside.

The developer is a very shrewd business man. He values his pocket more than he cares about you or me. He either has his hand in everything or simply owns the business outright. This is apparent when you think about the water system, the trash, electric, gas, recycling, etc. In a normal homeowners' assn. the residents own the amenities. Not here. Businesses here have gone out of business because the costs are so high: rent, utilities, a percentage of receipts, etc. A doctor here told me he has to pay for parking spaces (Morse owns the property) over and beyond what he pays for his office. Doesn't it strike you as strange that Brownwood still has so many unoccupied store fronts? Think $$$ in terms of costs to the businessman.

Why has no one complained about our trash. We have to buy clear plastic bags for his recycling, from which he makes money??? In addition, it's really an oxymoron. We have to put our recyclables in plastic bags that we buy??? Talk about stupid things. That's 50,000 homes X who knows how many plastic bags every week. That is scary! We are adding to the problem by using more plastic. Why don't we have recycling bins and trash cans like the ones Waste Management supplies to their residents? I guess it's because it costs too much money to supply them.

There are many great things about this community. But there also ain't no free lunch!