Utility rate increase

Said her sewer bill is higher than a family of five's, though she lives alone and much of her water goes to pecan trees and yard watering, never entering the sewer; asked the council to make rates fair, just, and reasonable under the Texas Water Code.

Suggested modest annual increases of 5% and 3% and dedicated line items on bills for a water tower rather than a sudden jump, noting widows and children cannot pay $250-to-$500 bills.

A 71-year-old man caring for his wife with stage four cancer said his bill went from $120 to $220 without notice and questioned how sewer charges are calculated when not metered.

Said doubling bills is poor leadership today even if past neglect caused infrastructure problems, and warned elected officials can be voted out.

Said her 98- and 93-year-old parents' sewer bill rose a thousand percent, her mother heats dishwater in the microwave, and there was no notice on bills or the website; demanded it be fixed that night.

A recent retiree from Dallas said her sewer went from a flat fee to nearly four times as much, charged on lawn water that never reaches the sewer; asked for winter averaging, phased increases, senior relief, and direct mailed notice.

River Bend HOA fines residents for brown yards, so he must pay the higher water bill; cited low average retiree incomes in Wilson County and praised Mario Morones and Jake Lamberth for sticking up for residents.

First-time attendee called the increase exorbitant mismanagement and said council should be ashamed.

Gave detailed math showing her bill rose 69% since July, explained how the 1,000-gallon base and consumption-based sewer double-charge outdoor water use, and asked for restoration of the 3,000-gallon base, winter averaging, and retroactive re-billing under the old rates.

Said the increase is outrageous during hard times, reported low water pressure on his two-inch line and a required pump to city sewer, and asked the council to reconsider, especially for the elderly.

Called the increase taxation without representation and demanded repeal, saying nobody in the city can afford the bills.

A former JP judge on Social Security, her bill jumped from about $100 to $264; she proposed the council appoint a citizen committee to study the rates and provide channels for public input, and volunteered to serve.

Said past councils moved money out of the budget leaving disintegrating sewer pipes, questioned where the plan was, and asked what else around town is failing.

A young new resident asked how anyone fresh out of high school could afford a $250 water bill alongside $4 gas and groceries, and asked why late notices get mailed but rate increases don't.

Asked what the council was thinking, said the city doesn't need expansions or high-salaried hires if pipes need fixing, and suggested rethinking the city manager.

A 23-year resident and retiree calculates $3,000 a year in increases, with sewer going from $35.71 to $197.89; said bills must be credited back and representation is why everyone came.

Said his nearly $300 water bill was blamed on a leak he says doesn't exist, he loses water pressure near the expo construction, and he and his wife are refusing to pay until the city figures it out.

The 77-year-old fixed-income resident used less water this month yet his bill rose 79%, and asked how the city explains that.

Showed a bill of $1,749.57 showing 214,000 gallons of usage for his family of five; the mayor confirmed the reading showed an obvious error, and he warned the peanut festival economy will suffer.

On a fixed income, urged the city to do more with less, questioning roughly half a million dollars in new $95,000-plus positions and nearly empty buses running around town.

Works in an apartment complex and questioned why her water and sewer charges are identical; said bills print 132 instead of 13,000 gallons with no zeros, and asked for tiered pricing rather than one lump rate.

A 19-year data-processing veteran said bills should have been test-run before going out; hers showed 120 (actually 12,000 gallons) doubled for sewer with no sewer shown, and demanded bills be reworked.

Her bill went from $127.28 to $564.49 with claimed usage of 52,000 gallons for two people who work long hours; city hall couldn't explain it, and she asked for the old rates back, not a payment plan, with nine days before the bill is due.

Spoke for herself and her neighbor Billy Munoz, who was on vacation; both bills went very high and she asked the council to look into them.

During staff discussion, said a 1,000-gallon base isn't enough and her retired-teacher household uses 14,000 gallons minimum; asked the council to figure out something better over the 90 days.

Came from watching at home; said residents elected officials to know budgets so they don't have to attend every meeting, called the second-meter fix unrealistic for her family of five, and said the approach needs rethinking.