As unfortunate as the divide in our town is over the surface water project and the resultant higher rates, much of the animosity could have been avoided had the Davis City Council and city staff simply been completely honest with us from the get-go.

Somewhere along the line, however, someone in officialdom decided to silence the critics and mollify concerned citizens by throwing out a rate increase “percentage” that was flat out false. I’d like to be charitable and say this was merely a mistake made during a mathematical calculation, but the facts say otherwise. Yes, this deception was intentional.

Strong charges, to be sure, but here are the facts.

A few months ago, when the surface water project bubbled into the public consciousness, alarm bells went off all over town when it was revealed that our water rates would likely more than triple just a few years down the road.

And then, magically, just a day or two before the decisive early September council meeting to decide the issue once and for all, the city announced that the water rate increase would only be 14 percent annually. The city had heard our concerns, rolled up its sleeves and found us all some significant cost savings.

Predictably, much of the opposition melted away and the project sailed through on a 4-1 vote. I was one of those who believed the city was being honest with us about the 14 percent figure, though I realized that even 14 percent a year for five years might nearly double our family’s bill.

Turns out, 14 percent has absolutely no relation to reality. The actual figures are much, much higher. Worse yet, the city made the conscious decision to balance the water project budget on the backs of larger families through an onerous “tier” system.

Currently in Davis, we pay $1.50 per hundred cubic feet (ccf) for the first 36 ccf in a two-month period. Using the city’s own figures, that will rise to $1.90 in the first year, a gain not of 14 percent, but 26.7 percent. In other words, nearly twice what the city claims.

But, and here’s the rub for anyone who was silly enough to invite Grandpa and Grandma to live with them because the winters are just too cold in Casper, the 36 ccf allowed in Tier I pricing will plunge to just 27 ccf in the first year. And once you’re in Tier II, you’ll be paying $2.46 for the very same water that costs you $1.50 today. That’s a gain of 64 percent. And we’re talking only about the first year here, beginning this coming Jan. 1.

Four years down the road, on Jan. 1, 2016, even the most conservation-minded Davisites, including folks without children, will be paying $3.60 for the very same water that costs $1.50 today. That’s an increase of 240 percent, and despite the city’s continued insistence that our rates are going up by only 14 percent annually, there is no way that 14 percent compounds into 240 percent in four years. Not even close.

Even worse for moderate-sized and large families who believe their kids need to take a bath every once in a while, the Tier I allowance plunges all the way to 23 ccf in 2016 from the current 36 ccf, sending much of their water bill to a breathtaking $4.64 per ccf. Yes, for these unlucky souls, the water in excess of 23 ccf that now costs them $1.50 will cost $4.64 four years down the road. That’s an increase of 309 percent.

So that original “tripling” figure that scared the devil out of everyone last June will soon be coming true for these families after all.

But again, the city is sticking by its story. Maybe they figure if they repeat the 14 percent figure often enough, people will simply tune out anything to the contrary. Until, of course, those water bills start landing in the mailbox come January. But by then, unfortunately, it will be too late to do anything about it.

When I’ve challenged elected officials and city staff over these figures, straight answers are impossible to come by.

My consistent question to all of them has been, “Can you please explain how $1.50 to $1.90 translates to just 14 percent? And can you further explain how $1.50 can rise to $3.60 or even $4.64 in just four years if rates rise just 14 percent per year?”

No one has even attempted to directly answer my question.

The mayor referred me to the city water guru, who basically asked me if I’d checked out the city’s rebate program.

Councilman Dan Wolk responded to my question by saying “The motion I voted for calls for maximum rate increases of 14 percent per year. Your math (which looks right to me) shows that is not necessarily the case for some.”

No, my friend, it’s not necessarily the case for anyone. If you thought you were voting for 14 percent, think again

The principal civil engineer in the Public Works department wrote “I know that the way this is presented is not the easiest to follow. I’d like to meet with you in person. We need to be able to explain this to the public in a way that makes sense and I welcome your input.”

Here’s my input. And it’s easy to follow because it just states the facts. There’s actually nothing complicated about this at all. It’s simple math. Just tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We all know how to add and subtract and multiply and divide. Some of us can even do fractions.

Issue a press release that tells the simple truth that rates will rise at least 240 percent in the next four years for all Davis ratepayers. And carefully point out that many ratepayers will see rates on a portion of their water rise by as much as 309 percent in four years due to the fact that Tier II pricing of water will kick in at a dramatically lower level. That would be honest.

Don’t sugarcoat or ignore or gloss over the significance of the Tier II increases, because in many cases they will dramatically and adversely affect the budgets of many, many families.

I’m one of those who still hasn’t made up my mind about the necessity of the surface water project. I’m still learning and discussing and having an internal debate on the merits or lack thereof.

But the city has made my job much, much more difficult by intentionally obscuring the facts concerning just how dramatic our rate increases will be if this project goes forward as planned.

It’s outrageous at worst, disappointing at best. And it convinces me it’s time to have an open and honest debate and a vote of the people before we move forward.

— Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected]

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