Your water and sewerage rate is increasing this month, substantially.
In 2018, the Free Press warned residents that a sewage and water rate increased, if approved, would hit residents hard three years after it passed because it contained a “stealth” mechanism that allowed the increases to go into effect automatically each year without a vote of the council.
This month, city residents began receiving notices that there would be a noticeable increase in the water and sewage rate of citizens. The notice was included in city water bills and pointed to a 2018 controversial decision by the Monroe City Council that bulldozed through by former mayor James Earl Mayo for authorization.
The notice explained that anytime there is an increase in the national prices of goods and services (called the Consumer Price Index) increases that local water and sewage rates would be adjusted to the same rate of increase.
The notice did not say that there was an increase in the cost of operating the water plant, only that the Consumer Price Index nationwide had increased.
Unless repealed, the cost will continue to increase indefinitely in five-year blocks.
For local residents, it all means that since 2018, that local water and sewer rates have increased 75 percent without a vote or even a mention by the city council.
Only two of Monroe’s present council members were in office in 2018, but two of them voted for the increase after a public tongue lashing by former Mayor Mayo.
Mayo’s sneaky plan made a small change in the language that triggers the increases automatically.
Previously, rate increases were tied to the actual cost of running the water department. This is called the Producer Price index. It meant that if there was a substantial increase in the cost of providing safe, clean water, that the cost would be passed on to consumers.
By switching to the “Consumer” price index as a measuring tool, local water and sewer rates would be tied to costs of goods and services around the country. That includes everything from the cost of hamburgers to bags of potato chips. If these costs, nationwide, increased then the local water and sewage rate would increase.
The Producer Price Index rarely increases enough to trigger increases, but the Consumer Price Index is almost guaranteed to increase about 2 percent or more annually.
It keeps money flowing into the city. In 2018, it was projected that it would produce about $4 million annually for the city.
Ironically, several of the city’s current leaders spoke against automatic increase, when they were candidates last year. Mayor Oliver Ellis, Council members: Corday Marshall, and Kema Dawson-Robinson all said increases if warranted, should be reviewed and approved by the city council.
The city is enjoying the increased revenue it receives from the rate increases, but the revenue comes in their aftermath of an eight-year fight waged by Mayo. It began in 2010, when Mayo first floated the idea of automatic increases. Then two black council members: Arthur Gilmore and Eddie Clark refused to go along. However, Red Stevens voted with the majority and an increase was granted, but not automatic.
In 2018, Mayo pushed again and passed the increase with Juanita Woods breaking with other Southside council members to vote for the automatic increases.
The Free Press, at the time, was ridiculed for causing trouble and raising fears of increases that would never happen.
Now, the chickens have come home to roost.
The automatic increases, which are giant-sized, are going into effect this month and will continue to increase every year unless the city council repeals the Mayo council’s action.
To repeal the “automatic” component does not mean that the rates cannot be adjusted to cover costs, but it does mean that no rates will increase without a review and a vote of the city council.
If Mayor Ellis and the council does nothing, then Mayo’s eight-year fight to put the increases in place is endorsed.
Also, if no changes are made then this administration will continue another of the flawed policies of the past with different faces but the same outcome.
Without changes, it will continue to be Mayo 2.0
