Rahm's Budget Includes Water, Sewer Fee Increase

Mayor Rahm Emanuel formally unveiled his proposed 2012 City budget yesterday and, as the press release from his office indicated, Chicago residents will be paying more fees, fines and other taxes to help shrink a projected $636 million shortfall.

In addition to the increase in the hotel tax, a "congestion fee" to be charged on residents and suburban workers who drive into the city for their jobs, declaring a temporary TIF surplus, cutting back on library hours, closing three police stations and eliminating jobs, the mayor proposed a 25 percent increase in water and sewer fees for 2012 that would help fund a revamp of the city sewer system.

If you're one of the 316,000 homeowners in Chicago without a water meter you better call the City Water Department to have a free one installed ASAP or start taking Navy Showers. The proposed water fee hike will cost homeowners an average of $120 and, seeing as there's no rhyme or reason to how water bills are calculated since so many homes don't have meters, someone's going to pay more than his fair share.

One silver lining in the water hike is that, for now, Emanuel hasn't proposed privatizing the city water system. He's also come to the realization Gov. Pat Quinn won't be signing the stalled casino legislation anytime soon. Emanuel has used the city sewer system as Exhibit "A" to call for Quinn to sign the bill, saying the revenues from a Chicago casino could go to modernize thee network.

Emanuel also framed his budget as a jobs bill, using the revenue collected from fee increases to reinvest in Chicago's infrastructure. A proposed $14.8 million increase in city sticker fees for SUV’s would fill 160,000 potholes, he said

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By Chuck Sudo in News on October 13, 2011 8:15 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Therese Odlevak

What about the layoffs? Chicago Public Library is losing 363 jobs and no one is reporting on this. It's all SUVs and Condo Owners fees making news...

twocee

Nobody cares about librarians anymore. They all have Wikipedia!

/end sarcasm.

MCY

Whether
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Act. It will spur local revenue, jobs
and investment. Under the act, municipalities with video gaming will
receive five percent tax revenue that would remain under local control to help
fund projects from the Illinois Capital plan.
To learn more about the capital plan and its impact, please visit
www.BacktoWorkIllinois.com

twocee

I'm continually amazed that things I take for granted elsewhere aren't required in this city. Why doesn't everyone have a water meter installed?

chicagoist_tips

There's a fear among some homeowners that installing a water meter will lead to larger bills when, as Keiller mentioned, the opposite happens.

twocee

Yes, but in places where I've lived, you didn't have a choice on having a water meter. It's a required element on a building, or you don't get water. I understand why homeowners, being stupid, might not WANT one. I don't understand how the city doesn't REQUIRE one.

BlueFairlane

I think the answer is in the modifier you used for the word "homeowners."

kieller

I've gotten the water meter installed.It was quick, easy and painless. Shrunk my water bill considerably, highly suggest getting one, especially if you have a lawn you don't water.