Columbia irked by proposed 21 percent water hike

By -

LANCASTERONLINE
An impending rate hike for water in Columbia borough had many council members on Monday night discussing ways to oppose the proposed increase.

In a notice to customers, Columbia Water Company announced rates for residential, industrial, public and commercial customers in the borough will see an increase exceeding 21 percent as of June 24, if approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/860366_Columbia-irked-by-proposed-21-percent-water-hike.html

Comments

Anonymous said…
and to add insult to injury do NOT forget that the water co stole the land.......tis is just sooooo wrong on so many levels.
June 12, 2013 at 7:14 AM
Anonymous said…
What can you do? With consistently rising sewer rates, water rates, and school taxes - the powers that be continue not to advocate for either residents or businesses. They will continue to push their tax base right on out of the borough.

June 12, 2013 at 1:38 PM
Anonymous said…
mark my words-this boro WILL be a ghost town in another few years....people are losing their homes every day....and their jobs..BUBT the BORO MGMT and the SCHOOL BOARD DO NOT understnad or get it.....we CAN NOT afford it any more. if you cant find a way to TAX every renter inthis filthy boro, then you MUST combine school districxts. we simply can not afford to carry all these transients anymore.
June 12, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Anonymous said…
all you people better wise up real quick-the boro is complaining about the water co 21 % increase ....well guess what?????? the boro will do the same exact thing if norm had his way before retiring (and not that it matters since he sits onthe Municipal Authoirity board)......he is courting LASA real bad....and the rates will increasde auto from $19.44 per month or $58.32 for 3 months with the Boro keeping the wastewater treatment plant that they ALREADY OWN AND THE GROIUND THAT IT SITS ON!!!!!!! LASA rates will be at the VERY least $82.99 per 3 months.....go on thier website and see for yourself.........
June 12, 2013 at 6:44 PM
Anonymous said…
unfortunately tho the Boro powers that be just do not get it. these rental props intown are killing us taxpayers. AND to top it off-the majority of em are vacant, out of state slumlords......and they are the ones that get away with the same bs year after year after year.....i do not get it. where in the heck is council...i blame them for NOT doing their jobs.
the bOro needs to find a way to get rid of all these rental props......theres WAY too many...and the buslkoads that come here from Lancaster city do so for a reason...because they can. they trash the rentals, they have multiple children. they collect welfare, food stamps, etc....and have better things than you and i.....WHEN WILL THESE MGMT GET THIS??????? unbelieveable.
June 12, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Anonymous said…
sadly, unfortunately, no one cares enough to attend mtgs to voice their opinion or concerns...they will however complain...constantly. councilpersons and school board members:
hello. not sure what you people do not understand. this town is full of so many transients who come here to live free and burden us already overburdened taxpayers...the town pride thing-not the same. no more. the school should NEVER have spend all those millions of dollars to upgrade. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST COMBINE WITH OTHERS....LIKE EASTERN, DONEGAL OR WEST HEMPFIELD. OTHERWISE, WE ARE DONE, FINISHED. FINITO. get your head out of the sand.
June 13, 2013 at 6:46 AM
Anonymous said…
THIS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE! THE COLUMBIA WATER CO STOLE, YES STOLE THE LAND FOR THE UPGRADE OR NEW PLANT.....STOLE IT....AND NOW THEY ARE ASKING FOR A 21 % INCREASE - COLUMBIA ONLY......PEOPLE WAKE THE HECK UP.
Is this right? is this fair? AND you still think you are being treated right. fair. WRONG
June 13, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Anonymous said…
the truth hurts. ouch. i agree whole heartedly. the taxpayers who have been carrying this town all these years are DONE>
June 13, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Anonymous said…
Although I agree there are major problems with taxes etc. in Columbia not all renters are scum bags like many imply. I happen to rent a house in Columbia. I pay my rent every month and do you really think for one second my rent doesnt reflect the taxes paid on this house get real. Just because you own a house doesnt mean no one else is payin there share. Besides look at alot of the OWNED houses in town and there are just as many scumbags homeowners as renters.
June 13, 2013 at 5:48 PM
Joe Lintner said…
We can't keep sustaining this "system."
June 13, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Anonymous said…
no we can't BUT mgmt at the Boro and the School District JUST DON"T GET IT.....AND don't forget Norm is on the municipal authority and he STILL wants LASA.....everyone complains now about the cost of sewer-LASA will be a LOT MORE, minimum is $ 82 for 3 months compared to $58 with the Boro....AND THEN THE BORO WILL NOT HAVE ANY MONEY COMING IN. WILL NOT OWN THE SEWER PLANT (LIKE THEY DO NOW) AND ALL FOR WHAT? this is SO STUPID. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD ENDORSE IT. COUNCIL YOU BETTER DO YOUR HOMEWORK, THE NATIVES ARE VERY VERY RESTLESS
June 13, 2013 at 9:45 PM
Joe Lintner said…
This is scary stuff.
June 14, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Good points. Thanks.
June 14, 2013 at 9:10 PM
Joe Lintner said…
This is a public relations disaster for the company, but I'll bet the execs don't give a damn as long as profits are intact.
June 14, 2013 at 9:12 PM
Anonymous said…
to the renter....no YOU do NOT pay taxes....how many choldren do you have inour schools??? get mt point. downtown rentals have the majority of renters with way multiple kids-NO YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES and NO YOU DO NOT PAY FOR YOUR KIDS SCHOOLING. duh., i am not saying all renters are scumbags...but i am saying that the landlords do NOT pay the amount we homeowners pay for taxes-1 reason would be the location and the appraised value-since they get trashed on a regular basis. THE BORO AND SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO TAX EVERY SINGLE RENTER IN THIS BORO 18 YRS OF AGE AND OVER (OR YOUNGER IF THEY HAVE KIDS) IF THEY DON'T.....START PACKING YOUR SHIT BECAUASE WE CAN NOT SUSTAIN YOU ALL ANYMORE
June 14, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Anonymous said…
now THAT is certainly correct. i don';t understand how and why the powers that be do NOT get it. because they have a personal agenda or because they have blinders on or because money isn't an issue.....come on people, we pay DOUBLE IN TAXES WHAT OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES IN NEIGBORING COMMUJNITIES DO.....I PAY $ 4,000.00 A YEAR FOR WHAT ????
June 15, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Anonymous said…
i have to say i agree. to all you renters here in the boro. what do you NOT understand???? you come here from outside the area-you were not born nor raised here...but you come here and take take take. you do NOT pay your way. nor do you care about the boro-keeping it clean, having pride inour tightknit small giving community....PLEASE UNDERSTAND. YOU RENT FOR A REASON YOU CAN NOT AFFORD THE TAXES AND UPKEEP OF OWNING A HOME. WELL , guess what? WE CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE EITHER. our backs are broken from carrying so many of you. we have more rental properties than BIG cities. THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF TAX FOR ALL RENTERS THAT HAVE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 18 YRS OF AGE.....you need to help pay for your childrens education. Sorry. We can not afford to educate and clothe our own children. THE SYSTEM IS BROKE. AND IS N NEED OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT.
June 15, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Anonymous said…
pay attention right on the heels of the water co 21 % increase will be the boro sewer increase IF WE IGNORANT LAZY TAXPAYING RESIDENTS ALLOW THE BORO TO SELL TO LASA.....this woukld be ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THIS BORO COULD EVER EVER MAKE.....AND THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO EVER EVER FIX IT AGAIN. WISE UP. TELL YOUR COUNCIL PEOPLE. maybe we should go to the boro website and get their names and phone numbers and burn up the phone lines! start today, contact ALL the council persons and tell them NO TO LASA......now thats what im talking about!
June 15, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Anonymous said…
i also agree. Columbia is land locked. Has way way too many rental properties and renters who pay nothing to educatetheir children, that's why they come here by the busloads. they trash our town. they disrespect us. something has got to change.
June 16, 2013 at 8:48 AM
Anonymous said…
my wish woul dbe that Boro mgmt and School Bopard members READ this blog. Maybe they would be enlightened.Since none of them have even a clue.
We'll tell you how to fix stuff.
June 19, 2013 at 7:01 AM
Anonymous said…
this is absolutrely positively ridiculous. thank you PUC for at least taking a look into this matter. I do not understand how the COlumbia Water Co can steal theland by eminent domain and then raise rates 21 % for Columbia only....makes no sense and is downright wrong. among other things.

KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN. THE BORO IS STILL LOOKING INTO GOING WITH LASA. BIG MISTAKE. THE BORO OWNS THE PLANT AND THE LAND IT SITS ON. WHY WOULD YOU GET RID OF THE MONEYMAKER? AND UNLESS YOU PLAN TO SELL THE PLANT FOR ABOUT $50 MILLION. GO HOME.
June 22, 2013 at 10:48 PM
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