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Burbank City Council likely to hike utility rates; Handful of residents complained they were not well informed about the possibilities of paying more for water, trash

Posted by: Maven on June 14, 2009 at 10:16 am

From the Burbank Leader:

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to raise water, electric, trash collection and sewer rates to help meet increased costs, a move that drew the ire of roughly two dozen residents, including one councilman. The plan must still come back for a final vote later this month as part of the city’s overall $755.6-million budget, but it is expected to pass.

The rate increases would add between $1 and $8 to an average resident’s monthly bills. The breakdown would pencil out to an additional $6.50 for water, $8 for electric, $2 for trash collection and $1 for sewer services.

In sharply opposing the increases through a mix of speakers and letters, residents echoed a common refrain of not having enough information, despite being on the receiving end of a notice mailed to 46,000 households some 45 days before the public hearing.

“What do these numbers mean to me? There’s nothing there that resonates with me,” said Dennis Shiflett, one of a handful of residents carrying the letter and newspaper clippings.

“If we had some more detail, I think we could respond more to you folks,” said Councilman David Gordon, who voted against the plan after calling the bundle of proposals a “pervasive tax.”

Read more from the Burbank Leader by clicking here.

June 14, 2009 · Filed Under Southern California

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