Letter to the Editor

Residents should attend meeting

Monday, May 28, 2012

To the Editor:

I attended a "special" meeting concerning a rate increase that is coming to the residents of Staunton.

The town board has proposed a 13-20 percent increase in the sewage rates. Thirteen percent is minimum to break even and 20 percent is to have some money in the bank.

The water rates were also proposed to be increased for Staunton town residents only. Those who have Staunton water, but live outside of town, will not be affected.

My concerns are:

* The fact that a lot of people in our little town are on "fixed incomes," and cannot afford to pay more than what they already pay,

* We already have several defaults on a monthly basis, which cost additional funds to send out notice of defaults. An additional 13-20 percent rate increase would also increase the number of defaults, thus increasing that fee,

* Those who are on Staunton water, but not sewage, will not have an increase. Should not a water increase be across the board for all to share? The reason for rate increase was told to be inflation on chemicals for operation of the water plant. One would believe that in that situation, the water rates should increase for all.

We recently had an increase and now they want to increase us additionally. Where does this end?

Because people do not make time to attend meetings, they do not know that these increases are being forced in. Nobody shows up to raise concerns about the board's actions. Therefore, they force increases through without any objection or question. We as people of a small community need to make every effort possible to attend the next meeting on June 11, 2012, at the community center.

The sewage increase will be a definite increase, but we can have a say in how much of an increase. As far as the water, we need to protest that, too.

Why raise in town people's rates, and not out of town rates?

Please show up at the next meeting on June 11, 2012, and let the board know your concerns.

Thank you,

Deborah Montague,

Staunton