The City of Shawnee wants $55 million! Guess where they are going to get it from? That’s right, your water bill and sewer bill. First our local Shawnee industry is going to be hammered on our incoming water with a first year increase of 36 percent, second year increase 51 percent, third year increase 64 percent, fourth year increase 20 percent, fifth year increase of 12 percent! In five years the industry monthly rate will go from a current monthly base rate of $6.70 to $30.63.
But wait there is still more. In year six increase another one percent, year seven increase eight percent, year eight zero percent, year nine 9 percent, and in year 10 three percent. That takes the industry base rate from $6.70 to $37.19 in 10 years.
Wait, there is still more. The outgoing water, the sewer, follows the same increases over 10 years, a double hit on the business community!
At TDK our water and sewer bill for the month of June 2009 was over $12,000. For you math majors out there compound that bill out over the 10 years as set forth in this new city program. Yes, that becomes an expense that will bust any budget.
There is still more. As a residential user you get a break on the first year with only an increase of nine percent, then your monthly bill will follow the same increases the industry receives for the next 10 years. Your residential base rate will go from $6.70 per month to $29.75 in 10 short years.
Still there is more for residential users, but only if you subscribe soon to the Shawnee water system. You also get the same deal as the industry. Your sewer bill will also go up by the same percentage amounts.
What a deal! You will not have to wait long for this great package as the city council is scheduled to take action in September, so it can hit your water bill and sewer bill as soon as possible.
Back in 2007, when we experienced the drought and the city lakes were at a very low point, the city of Shawnee summoned the managers of local industries to a water summit held in the basement of city hall in the emergency planning center. At that time the city asked for our help. They asked the manufacturing industry to make capital investments to reduce their water consumption. The industry in good faith did step up to help the city out during the drought.
At TDK we lowered our water consumption from nine million gallons a month to six million gallons per month that year. Then the city thanked us in 2008 by giving us an eight percent rate increase on our water and sewer. When asked for an explanation for hitting us with an eight percent increase, we were told they needed the money because our industrial water consumption decreased, and they were collecting less money. In short, to make up the lost revenue, the city gave us a nice salute for doing what they requested us to do in 2007.
Do not lose sight that the city gave a 30 percent water rate increase in 2004. Simple math tells you that is a 38 percent increase in just three short years, from 2004 to 2007. Now they are telling us the sky is falling if they do not receive the $55 million, quick action must be taken by September or you could be without water if the main breaks.
The city liked to use the term water rate in their presentation which they gave to the industries in Shawnee. I prefer to call it what it is— tax. Yes, we consume a lot of water at TDK, but we pay a big monthly bill to the city for the water and we pay a big monthly bill for the sewer service. The water and sewer bill should be reasonable. The $55 million tax increase which the city is wanting is great for the city and those departments which get to spend it. It is, however, a tax increase that places a heavy burden not only on the industry in Shawnee, but you as an individual residential user. Stop and think about your personal house water bill going from $6.70 base rate per month to $29.75, same thing for the outgoing water in your sewer, another huge increase that you will have to budget for.
National and international businesses will locate their factories in communities which support them. States and cities which are willing to help them be profitable are those cities which develop long term relationships. Those that are short-sighted while focusing on tax and spend, run the risk of those long term relationships becoming short term.
Shawnee has two organizations which are purported to help grow our business community, the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development council. Will either of these two organizations have the internal fortitude to stand up against the powers to be at city government who want $55 million? The next few weeks will give us a clue.
Do you see any pattern here with the way this is being handled? Tax and spend, pass the measure as soon as possible or the sky will fall and disaster will befall on us all.
Government, whether it is at the national, state, or local level is there to serve the people. They are not there to tax and spend every time they develop a wish list. I encourage you to call your council representative and the mayor of Shawnee to weigh in on this issue before it becomes reality. Once the taxes on the water are raised they will never go back down.
But wait there is still more. Those of you who do not live in Shawnee, but your community buys your water from the city of Shawnee, you can get in on this deal too! All at the same amazing rate increases! So call now, their operators are waiting, have your credit card ready.
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The City of Shawnee wants $55 million! Guess where they are going to get it from? That’s right, your water bill and sewer bill. First our local Shawnee industry is going to be hammered on our incoming water with a first year increase of 36 percent, second year increase 51 percent, third year increase 64 percent, fourth year increase 20 percent, fifth year increase of 12 percent! In five years the industry monthly rate will go from a current monthly base rate of $6.70 to $30.63.
But wait there is still more. In year six increase another one percent, year seven increase eight percent, year eight zero percent, year nine 9 percent, and in year 10 three percent. That takes the industry base rate from $6.70 to $37.19 in 10 years.
Wait, there is still more. The outgoing water, the sewer, follows the same increases over 10 years, a double hit on the business community!
At TDK our water and sewer bill for the month of June 2009 was over $12,000. For you math majors out there compound that bill out over the 10 years as set forth in this new city program. Yes, that becomes an expense that will bust any budget.
There is still more. As a residential user you get a break on the first year with only an increase of nine percent, then your monthly bill will follow the same increases the industry receives for the next 10 years. Your residential base rate will go from $6.70 per month to $29.75 in 10 short years.
Still there is more for residential users, but only if you subscribe soon to the Shawnee water system. You also get the same deal as the industry. Your sewer bill will also go up by the same percentage amounts.
What a deal! You will not have to wait long for this great package as the city council is scheduled to take action in September, so it can hit your water bill and sewer bill as soon as possible.
Back in 2007, when we experienced the drought and the city lakes were at a very low point, the city of Shawnee summoned the managers of local industries to a water summit held in the basement of city hall in the emergency planning center. At that time the city asked for our help. They asked the manufacturing industry to make capital investments to reduce their water consumption. The industry in good faith did step up to help the city out during the drought.
At TDK we lowered our water consumption from nine million gallons a month to six million gallons per month that year. Then the city thanked us in 2008 by giving us an eight percent rate increase on our water and sewer. When asked for an explanation for hitting us with an eight percent increase, we were told they needed the money because our industrial water consumption decreased, and they were collecting less money. In short, to make up the lost revenue, the city gave us a nice salute for doing what they requested us to do in 2007.
Do not lose sight that the city gave a 30 percent water rate increase in 2004. Simple math tells you that is a 38 percent increase in just three short years, from 2004 to 2007. Now they are telling us the sky is falling if they do not receive the $55 million, quick action must be taken by September or you could be without water if the main breaks.
The city liked to use the term water rate in their presentation which they gave to the industries in Shawnee. I prefer to call it what it is— tax. Yes, we consume a lot of water at TDK, but we pay a big monthly bill to the city for the water and we pay a big monthly bill for the sewer service. The water and sewer bill should be reasonable. The $55 million tax increase which the city is wanting is great for the city and those departments which get to spend it. It is, however, a tax increase that places a heavy burden not only on the industry in Shawnee, but you as an individual residential user. Stop and think about your personal house water bill going from $6.70 base rate per month to $29.75, same thing for the outgoing water in your sewer, another huge increase that you will have to budget for.
National and international businesses will locate their factories in communities which support them. States and cities which are willing to help them be profitable are those cities which develop long term relationships. Those that are short-sighted while focusing on tax and spend, run the risk of those long term relationships becoming short term.
Shawnee has two organizations which are purported to help grow our business community, the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development council. Will either of these two organizations have the internal fortitude to stand up against the powers to be at city government who want $55 million? The next few weeks will give us a clue.
Do you see any pattern here with the way this is being handled? Tax and spend, pass the measure as soon as possible or the sky will fall and disaster will befall on us all.
Government, whether it is at the national, state, or local level is there to serve the people. They are not there to tax and spend every time they develop a wish list. I encourage you to call your council representative and the mayor of Shawnee to weigh in on this issue before it becomes reality. Once the taxes on the water are raised they will never go back down.
But wait there is still more. Those of you who do not live in Shawnee, but your community buys your water from the city of Shawnee, you can get in on this deal too! All at the same amazing rate increases! So call now, their operators are waiting, have your credit card ready.
