“Davis May Trim Water Bills by 8%” screams the newspaper headline. You are kidding us, aren’t you?

The City Council is studying a staff recommendation to reduce by 8 percent the slush fund that they are creating in the water department by overcharging us on our water bills? If they grant the reduction, where will they look for some more money to waste on their separate project to take over PG&E in Davis? Perhaps they will go back to their old favorite slush fund, the $100 million sewer plant renovation project in the sewer department. They already have tapped that slush fund for $1 million to “study” the PG&E takeover.

In any case, citizens should not count on the 8-percent return of their money to last long. If Measure P is defeated, the council’s generosity will disappear with it. “That which Caesar gives he can take away on a whim.”

Oh yes, also, don’t worry about the millions of dollars the council has stripped out of the sewer plant renovation project. In three or four more years, they will be back with another tax override that will conveniently repay the sewer plant the tax money they have taken from it. That way, you get to pay twice for the same sewer benefit.

The whole idea of paying twice for something is really a hallmark of the present council. Davis’ water rates have a curious little trick in them. You pay for your water consumption during the summer. Then in the winter you pay for last summer’s water again in the form of a fee that is added to the winter consumption. Thus, you pay twice for the water you consumed in the summer.

How clever. The only thing missing is a man in a mask with a gun to collect anything we have left in our pockets.

“In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.” It is hard for me to believe the people of Davis deserve all of the chicanery discussed above. Fight back. Vote yes on Measure P, which will stop any double payment of summer water consumption.

Jim Stevens
Davis

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