It’s not puzzling to know that prices across the board have increased. Bidenomics let us know that every time we fill up at the pump or go to the grocery store. The question is, why is it happening and is it necessary? Have the costs of production risen to price point of what the customer has to pay?
The Town of Grantsville has read once, and announced once, that there would be an increase of 60% to the Grantsville Municipal Water Rates. According to Mayor Robert Petrovsky, former leadership failed to raise rates according to the inflationary rates of the past and it now causes the need for it to be done in one swift swoop of 60%.
While anyone can sympathize with the costs of water treatment increasing like everything else in the United States, there comes a point when the increase will do more subtraction to the city than addition.
With the poverty rate of Calhoun County as a whole increasing over the years from 20% in 2011 to over 34% in 2022 according to the United States Census, the water rate increase will make the necessity of water a reason to either leave the area, or a reason not to consider the area as a place to live at all. With the average Social Security Payment in West Virginia being reported as $1,455.00, how will families continue to pay the increases of the necessities of life? Water isn’t a luxury. Neither is food, gas, electric, etc., but the economic trend is to allow government to determine how well or poor American’s live.
Citizens are convinced that they have no control over any of it, but that’s not entirely true. There are measures of control, beginning with the local government.
Before the 60% water increase comes into effect, (which will also effect Mt. Zion and Pleasant Hill PSD customers) there is one more “reading” to be done at the next Grantsville Town Council Meeting on April 1st, 2024. It is at that meeting that customers should appear and voice their complaints to the Town Council.
There is also petitions that will be circulated around the area. If 25% of the customer base complains, the West Virginia Public Service Commission will investigate the need for the increase and determine if it should or should not be instituted.
For the Town, it’s not a question of whether or not expenses for operation have increased, they have. The question of whether or not the increase is a necessity is how the utility being managed. What expenses and salaries are being paid out of the water, out of the sewer and out of the general fund and are those expenses necessary? If the average Town resident is going to have to re-budget their homes and make the necessary cuts, shouldn’t the Town also be scrutinized to make sure that they’re managing the money that comes in each month in a way that benefits all concerned. It’s not unreasonable for any resident to want that question answered.
Watch for the petitions, watch for meeting times and dates and if you’re at all concerned about the additional cost of water, sign and allow the investigation of need to begin.
