Cheaters-To Tell, Or Not To Tell? tags Loyal Opposition

Posts tagged with Cheaters-To Tell, Or Not To Tell?

Posted by Moderate on October 12, 2009 at 5:41 p.m.

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Lawrence Budget Shortfall -What You Will Not Hear Elsewhere

Unlike historic budgeting methodology the City of Lawrence has not been charging enough for basic water services to cover our annual financial needs. In the latest of social experimentation they have planned for way too much income from residential homes who irrigate. That did not happen and now we have a significant shortfall.

Why have we heard nothing? Because the city doesn’t want to admit the level of social experimentation and income transfer buried in the residential water budget. In essence they argue that those who irrigate cost more and should pay more. Not unreasonable. Unfortunately they argue that those who irrigate should essentially pay for all future growth. That is not. I should mention that the city does not charge commercial users anywhere near what it charges residential users for an equivalent use of water. The magnitude of these irresponsible assumptions has now cost us and everyone will end up paying when we have to raise the water rates even higher.

Maybe we should leave social experimentation and income transfer practices to areas of our budget not dependent on long hot summers. Maybe our impact from climate change will be the other way. Maybe we should not soak (intended) those in West Lawrence where the lack of trees makes irrigation essential. Maybe we should charge commercial users more.

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