City Charges Questioned.
JustWondering starts the following:
I want to start a discussion after reading Friday's newspaper article about the challenge of the line fee charge from the City. I realize the City is trying to "fee" themselves out of a deficit, but that article made me question my mother's gas bill even harder. When she got her gas bill due 6/16/08, the charges had doubled from the prior month. I took it to the City to question the increase and the person told me that natural gas went up. Well, the next month, it was back down to what it was the month prior to the increase. Her brother's bill, who is also on fixed income, did not come back down and he did not question it. We asked a couple of others in the same situation and some stayed up, but some came down. I am wondering if others have had the same experience, or know of others who have. I am looking into if the City is raising rates on some that maybe can't or don't ask, to increase revenue. I find it odd that my mother's bill came down after I asked about it, and her brother's and a couple of others did not. If enough respond with the same issue, I will request an investigation by the State into the City's business practices. Hopefully this is just a coincidence. I did some checking on the internet and didn't find where rates doubled one month and then dropped by same amount the next. Also found where it took a course of three years for rates to double.
I want to start a discussion after reading Friday's newspaper article about the challenge of the line fee charge from the City. I realize the City is trying to "fee" themselves out of a deficit, but that article made me question my mother's gas bill even harder. When she got her gas bill due 6/16/08, the charges had doubled from the prior month. I took it to the City to question the increase and the person told me that natural gas went up. Well, the next month, it was back down to what it was the month prior to the increase. Her brother's bill, who is also on fixed income, did not come back down and he did not question it. We asked a couple of others in the same situation and some stayed up, but some came down. I am wondering if others have had the same experience, or know of others who have. I am looking into if the City is raising rates on some that maybe can't or don't ask, to increase revenue. I find it odd that my mother's bill came down after I asked about it, and her brother's and a couple of others did not. If enough respond with the same issue, I will request an investigation by the State into the City's business practices. Hopefully this is just a coincidence. I did some checking on the internet and didn't find where rates doubled one month and then dropped by same amount the next. Also found where it took a course of three years for rates to double.
It is my understanding that gas bills went through the roof due to some sort of "accounting glitches". I have several friends that saw their bills skyrocket and was told by city officials that it (pricing) would settle down. Whatever that means!
Keep an eye on it - I don't think things are as they should be.
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If a city or county employee comes out to check where I dig are they not supposed to have the landowner or renter sign a document or something to ensure their bosses that they in fact went to check. It seems to me that if I have to pay a fee for something, I should have something to show for it. My only other question is don't I pay taxes already? Doesn't the salary for the County and City employee come out of those taxes? If so, why am I paying twice for the service?
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You are paying twice because they can. This City Council and City Manager are the most anti-growth of any we have ever had. Talk to anyone that has had any dealings with them. Read last weeks paper. You cannot treat people the way this group is and expect economic growth. There is no reason for a business to come here to deal with this. The Mayor can hold "summits" and talk about providing jobs and growth for citizens all she wants. Talk is cheap. Actions are what people see.
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Well as stated in the paper we are the ONLY community which charges for this...As I see it these City Council members thing this is something they can get away with...
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This is the most absurd charges they can come up with. Yes we pay taxes for this. The citycannot manage their own finances enough but to come up withother charges. They hinder the citizens and the business's ability to survive. If they policed themselves like they do others things would be different.
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Has the city made this situation right ? I haven't heard anything.
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I am posting this comment to see if others feel the same way as I. We have someone at the City taken things and still trying to take things away from our community. First our City Pool was closed this year and was replaced with a small (very small) water park. Nothing I believe that takes the place of our pool. Next they are trying to close our Recreation Dept. down, which will affect our parks, which not only include City Park but our ball parks. I know for a fact that baseball/softball and tackle/flag football is a big deal for the young people in this town. I believe we are in a situation again of the little man suffering for the decisions of our higher authority positions. Everyone does not start at the top, people need to stop and think that their decisions and actions affect others. I believe most everyone has been the low man on the totem pole and they need to remember how they felt and wanted to just survive. Not only are the adults suffering in these cases but the young people are also. It is going along with what happened at our schools. Our children are going to suffer and I have seen this first hand today....What A Mess...
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Nicely said...couldn't agree with you more. You have to give it to the city though; they are trying their best to fee the citizens to death to get out of the deficit they faced after the Homestead Exemption increase. Maybe that should be a new discussion.
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Well it seems that maybe someone needs to look at things again and fix the problems within the City. Talk in this town goes a long way and I think that it is about time that our voices get heard. The past couple years it seems that there is nothing to do around here,it really makes you wonder why people leave this town or don't want to come here? The problem is clearly with the city officials and city hall, well maybe someone needs to clean it out and start over again? Isn't that what the city council is here for? Well I guess not! I guess things will keep getting worse for all the city residents,and our children will have nothing better to do than to commit to a troubled life of crime cause there is nothing for them to do! I want to Thank all the city officials for this! Way to set the stage for the next generation! Maybe the whole county needs a change, start all over again?
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