Letter: City is deceiving water customers

Mr. Bob Bush's July 24 letter about the Yuba City well water system completely mischaracterized the issue. The argument over well vs. river water is just a deception strategy by the city to deceive the people. The issue is who will bear the cost of the water system improvements, the city or the residents of Walton, Hillcrest and Jones area.

According to the city's own estimates, if Yuba City Water, which owns the water system, would bear the cost, the cost would be only $4 per month per household instead of the almost $20 per month cost per household the city wants the residents of Walton, Hillcrest and Jones Road areas to bear.

Mr. Bush I am amazed that you think that a $60 to $70 a month water bill is a bargain! To me, the $40 to $50 per month bill I paying now because of the $27.63 sewer fee we already pay is outrageous. I am now paying twice as much or more than I have had to before in the States and as much I paid in Europe for water. Also, because it is a fixed fee it does not matter how water I save, I am still paying an outrageous water bill.

Now they want to add an additional $19.80 to my water bill. According to the city utilities director's own figures, the average resident of Walton, Hillcrest and Jones Road areas will be paying over $72 per month for water ($23.99 current average + 27.63 sewer fee + .93 additional cost +19.80 capital fee).

Mr. Bush, this is a republic and one founded because a king threatened to increase taxes without representation. I was at the City Hall meeting when this issue was debated, and the mayor's threats did not go over well with the people of the Walton, Hillcrest and Jones Road areas, me included.

However, I as a resident of the Walton, Hillcrest and Jones Road area, I can tell you that more than 50 percent of people in the affected area are against this rate increase. People do understand the issue and have not been deceived or intimated.

Stephen A. Elliott

Yuba City