A water department is unique since it sells water and makes a “profit” for the municipality. Evans just gave this “profit” the the Erie County Water Authority! The 2013 Evans budget lists $2,000,000 in water sales and $1,100,000 in water purchases. That’s $675,000 budgeted “profit” in the 2013 budget and $900,000 in “profit” that can’t be included in the 2014 budget. This will require loans, higher taxes or budget cuts in 2013 and higher taxes or budget cuts in the 2014 budget. This post takes a look at 4-28-2013 supervisor’s column and lists facts omitted from column.
COMMENTS ON SUPERVISOR’S BULLET LIST
1) True. WPA? Really! The whole truth is that WPA installed water lines would be a very small percentage of all water lines and that even in 2013, many residents have wells and not town water.
2) 2013 budget shows a $900,000 gross profit or “surplus”. Operational losses are due to many years of mismanagement.
3) See #2!
4) Blaming the “previous administration” for water department problems is misleading at best. Councilman Cooper voted for all water dept resolutions since 2007. Since 2008, Councilman/Supervisor Dash offered and voted for most resolutions. (See Below) This “fact” was also noted in 2012 NYS Comptroller’s audit.
5) Facts are true but misleading. Remember past “Ramblings” in Pennysaver questioning why town officials did not go after grants? Farnham’s water tower was built with grants and their water system improvements included zero interest loans not part of Evans financing package.
Why Didn’t Evans Get Zero Interest Loans????
( Click Here To View PDF File )
Financing this amount in Evans at 4% will cost water customers $3,902,514.20!!! ( Click Here! )
6) True but again misleading. There’s no mention of the $9.00 flat fee. Many residents will now pay a minimum ECWA bill of $61.65. At a 6,000 gallon minimum at $7.15 per thousand gallons, minimum water bills would have been $42.90! Ask a senior which bill they would rather pay!
(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE THEN YOUR BROWSER’S BACK BUTTON)
7) 100% misleading! Evans is keeping most water department expenses listed in 2013 budget. In fact, only real savings is in lower costs due to fewer water bills being mailed out to water customers! The contract with the ECWA requires more water line replacements in 2017 & 2021 which will cost millions. How will this be paid for? There were no staffing reductions in clerk’s department since there is no need to collect & process water bill payments.
8) Misleading! Minimum water bills will increase from $33.30 to $61.65. Above chart shows how much your bill will increase.
9) Misleading! Evans has a declining population and less than 200 water customers. A real business that lost 95+5 of its customers would cut costs NOW!
10) Evans First??? At a 6,000 gallon a quarter minimum, at $7.15 per 1,000 gallons, Evans water customers using 17,000 gallons a quarter or less would have lower bills if Evans did not turn over the water system to the ECWA!
TOP TEN FACTS OMITTED FROM SUPERVISOR’S COLUMN
10) Cost to replace water lines and pave roads in 2017 omitted.
9) Cost to replace water lines and pave roads in 2021 omitted.
8) When savings from retirements will occur.
7) Why water department was kept intact to service less than 200 customers.
6) Amount of minimum ECWA bills ($61.65 – A 85/1% increase over current $33.30 minimum bills!)
5) Why Evans businessmen were not asked to help to solve financing / management crisis.
4) Why the $9.00 ECWA Infrastructure Investment Charge was omitted.
3) Percentage of water project paid for by grants.
2) Percentage of water project financed with zero percent loans from NYS.
1) Both Councilman Paul Cooper and Councilman / Supervisor Keith Dash were members of the “previous administration(s) that voted on all water related resolutions!!!!!
