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Jackson Water and Sewer Rate Increase Protest Fails |
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Wednesday, 21 November 2007 |
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The effort to prevent a water and sewer rate
increase in Jackson
has apparently failed. Jackson
City Manager Mike Daly said Monday that letters protesting the increases had
been counted and verified. Protest letters from over 50% of Jackson water and sewer
customers were needed to prevent the rate increase. Of 2088 water customers, 879 protest letters were
received, or 42.1%, failing by 166 votes. Of 1406 sewer accounts, 691 protest letters were received
for 49.1%, only 13 votes short of the 50% plus one needed. Protest
organizer Judith Jebian observed the letter count and received justification
for all invalidated letters.
Daly said some letters received were
not from Jackson
customers, and in some instances more than one letter was received for a single
property. The City Council will take the results of the protest up at their
November 26 meeting. At that point, they could resolve to put the rate increase
forward as proposed or they could decide to reduce or eliminate the rate
increase. Daly said that city staff has been looking into ways the city might
offer discounts to low-income residents that would comply with state law. If adopted as proposed, the
increase of 8.5% for all water customers and 17.5% for residential and
commercial sewer customers will become effective January 1, 2008. Also
on the November 26 Jackson City Council meeting will be selection of the next
Jackson Mayor and Vice Mayor.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 December 2007 )
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