Water and Sewer Increases

by the Brigantine Taxpayer Association

More for Government, Less for Taxpayers.
Taxpayers of Brigantine, by now you have received your water and sewer bills. Are you surprised by the increases? Unless you were at the February 2nd, 2005 City Council meeting (there were about 11 people in the audience), or read the brief mention about it in "The Beachcomber," you wouldn't have know that your municipal government was about to dip into your pocket again for more of your money. It's called a fee increase, another name for higher taxes, this time for our water and sewer services. According to the City Council, this is being done at the recommendation of the City auditor, an appointee and. not someone we elect. Those whom we elect, the members of Council, had no comment, no discussion, no figures to justify these increases, and no statements of their support on this recommendation. This is not being forthright with taxpayers.

This ordinance was introduced in the dead of winter, and was voted on within two weeks of its introduction, on February 16th, again in the dead of winter.

Do you see problems here with accountability to taxpayers? We do. Please read on.

First, let's look at some history. In 1993 our annual water bill increased 40% from $100 in 1992 to $140. In 2003, just two years ago, the fee increased 14% to $160 annually. Now, in 2005, the annual water bill again increases, this time by 25% to $200. With these increases, including the one proposed in this ordinance, the annual cost of water to taxpayers has doubled, from $100 to $200. The annual sewer bill increased from $240 in 1992 to $260 in 1993, to $280 in 1994, to $320 in 2003, to $345 in 2005, and to $350 in 2006. Because of different billing dates for water bills, this ordinance includes 2 sewer payments in 2005, $160 already paid, and $185, with 2 payments each of $175 in 2006. Thus, with these increases we go from $240 to $350 for annual sewer payments, an average annual increase of 3.5%.

Did City Council do the math on this ordinance?

Second, new construction continues unabated in Brigantine. Many new second homes, with a lower use of services, are replacing primary homes. These second homeowners pay the standard annual water and sewer charges regardless of this circumstance. This is reflected in a decrease of flow to the ACUA, which provides and bills us for our sewer service, from 2003 to 2004. This bill has increased by $143,000 from 2004 to 2005, and this figure needs to be analyzed based on the number of living units in Brigantine, the cost to the ACUA, and our costs. Also, within brigantine limited amount of land, these houses are being built on existing lots without the necessity and cost of new municipal infrastructure.

Third, with the new, non-labor-intensive computerized system within the Public Works Department for reading our water meters, there should be a decrease in departmental expenditures:

Burdening taxpayers as a substitute for cost-effective management is not accountable government.