Reply to 14% jump in DC Water Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC)

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Reply to "14% jump in DC Water Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC)"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here, surprised some posters think the jump is no big deal. The $$ amount is not the issue, though annoying as raises my CRIAC charge by about $25/mo. The issue is why this specific item is jumping so much, while none of the other charges on our monthly bill are going up nearly as much, and this item actually declined from 24 to 25.

Where is the explanation and the accountability? Are we all just do used to DC randomly screwing residents with fees and taxes that we just blame the people asking questions, rather than the politicians who are spending more and more of our money?

this ppt of DC water proposed budget https://www.dcwater.com/sites/default/files/finance/rates/BudgetReviewDocs/Proposed%20FY%202025%20Budget.pdf has no explanation of the rationale for the increase [/quote]

The explanation is not explicit, but it is there.

DC Water has a massive and increasing amount of debt to service and the cost of servicing that debt is increasing (I wonder if being financially independent from the DC government increases those costs).

Some of the projects that created that debt - replacing lead pipes - are worthwhile. Some - such as the new HQ building - seem downright wasteful. Others - such as cleaning up the rivers - are worthwhile but should not be left to DC residents alone to pay for.

Of course, DC Water’s payroll is bloated and it’s easier for management to raise rates than it is to fire people. Absent a massive outcry, the Board is always going to approve a rate increase rather than insist that DC Water rationalize their costs.

The projections in the budget are scary. DC residents water costs are going to rise sharply in the coming years.

DC Water only became an independent public entity in 1996. Spinning it off from the city government probably seemed like a good idea at that time. But I’m not sure it looks like such a great idea now. The Board structure makes it essentially unaccountable to DC residents, who are bearing the costs of its profligacy.[/quote]

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