City Council Deliberates Over Water Rate Increase
In a recent Shreveport City Council work session, key concerns about impending water and sewer rate increases were discussed. Many council members debated the merits and drawbacks of postponing the rate hike, which is projected to be as high as 10%. This proposed delay is designed to allocate more time for finding viable solutions to assist those who may not be able to afford the increase.
“So, what programs do we have in place for our public is what we should be working on at this particular point?” asked one councilwoman during the meeting. Another councilman expressed concern, saying, “If you already know where we are, we’ve already talked about this, why not be proactive? So, we wouldn’t even have this conversation today.”
Behind the Scenes
The city’s administrative officers have been exploring solutions but have experienced some stumbling blocks. “The original thought was, well, water assistance program (WAP) isn’t getting used much. Let’s try to tweak it and see if we can put the word out more. That’s, I think, what we’ve figured out is that is not going to work,” commented one administrative officer. He expressed hopes of presenting solutions to the council soon. “We’re going to try to have you something in a couple of weeks. If you’re not satisfied with it in two weeks, then, you know, we’re all big people and we’ve figured that part out too,” he added.
Concerns Over Rate Increase Approval
There were concerns raised over the urgency for the water rate increase to be approved. If the rate increase is delayed further, it could impact the city’s ability to back existing bonds and invest in necessary future upgrades for water and sewer infrastructure. “So, the longer we let it go out, the more we’re going to have to raise rates in the middle of the year in order to make up for the time that’s already gone past,” explained a city attorney.
In response to the pending issue, some council members have suggested the idea of setting up a committee to draft legislation and seek out solutions. This committee would work diligently to mitigate the impact of the proposed rate increase on Shreveport’s citizens.
Anticipated Water and Sewer Rate Hikes in Shreveport
Should the proposed rates be applied, Shreveport residents could soon see a significant increase in their water and sewer bills. The city council’s ongoing discussions and strategies are aimed at finding viable programs and initiatives that can help ease the burden of such increases for those who can least afford it. It is a complex and crucial issue that requires careful consideration and deliberate action, necessitating thorough discussions and thoughtful resolutions.
