Water rates to rise

The Long Beach City Council voted 3-2 to raise water rates at its Tuesday meeting. Starting Wednesday, the cost rose from $3.29 for each 1,000 gallons used on each parcel to $3.45, an increase of about 5 percent, or about $8 a year.

"The rate should be good for a minimum of two years, if not more," said City Manager Charles Theofan.

The water rate was last increased in 2005, after it had been raised the year before. Prior to 2004, the rate had remained the same since 1996, Theofan said.

Council member John McLaughlin said the rate increase is among the lowest in a state where, in some municipalities such as New York city, the rate increased 12 percent.

While Theofan said it was impossible to say exactly how much additional revenue the city would receive, since a rate increase can affect consumption, he anticipated that the city would collect about $350,000.

Residents and council member Len Torres called on Theofan to provide a written analysis of how the city arrived at the proposal. "There's a lot of raising of rates, but no evidence of the city looking into cutting rates," said resident Rachel Banschick. "I'd like to see something in black and white so residents can look and see the process by which you come to these rates."

Long Beach Library Board Trustee Fran Adelson, who lives in town, asked if residents and businesses pay for the city's use of water. Theofan said they did but that the fee was a "very minimal amount."

"It's an expense we need to know about," said council member Mike Fagen, who also asked why a cash-strapped city was hiring a new employee at the Water Department.

"I'm not adding any laborer that isn't absolutely necessary," Theofan said.

Council President Tom Sofield said that the city was not hiring an additional employee, but simply replacing someone who had transferred to the Building Department. Sofield also said that the water the city uses is to keep the city looking good "and not like a dirt patch."

"I don't want to raise my water rates, but

it's necessary," he said.

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