What Are We Doing?

Subsidized water rates (September 24, 2017)

Usually, when I point out that municipalities have hidden costs and fees associated with their water rates, I’m told I am wrong, and that even if this is the case it doesn’t matter. Your article lays bare some of the hidden costs with Hesperia’s water rates and provides evidence that these hidden costs do in fact matter (“Hesperia Council votes to raise water rates by 9 percent,” Daily Press, September 24, 2017).

To keep rates artificially low, Hesperia has subsidized water delivery to the tune of $10 million. This is money that should have gone to infrastructure, police, and other services. As far back as six years ago, Hesperia knew this was a problem, but for political (not business) reasons decided to keep deceiving residents about the true costs of their water service. It is anybody’s guess what they were thinking for the first 14 years of this subsidy.

That kind of monkey business doesn’t happen with Liberty Utilities in Apple Valley. Liberty’s bills for water services show exactly what you are paying for your water. This is what is known as total transparency.

Now if people would pay attention to the other hidden costs and fees associated with municipal water delivery, maybe we could finally put to rest the false narrative that local municipal water rates are substantially lower than are those in Apple Valley.

— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.

Published: Daily Press