Editor:

An open letter to the CSD board regarding proposed water and wastewater rate increases:

We respectfully but strongly oppose the proposed increase in water and wastewater rates and respectfully urge that you find an alternative source for any additional resources needed to fund CSD water supply and wastewater treatment operations and that you continue to do this until the financial condition of the CSD water and wastewater users is more robust. You must know that we are in very difficult economic times.

Our request is that you do what we must do in managing our household budgets, and that is: decrease expenses instead of increasing rates. Many of us CSD consumers do not have the capacity to increase revenue. We acknowledge that some expenses such as fuel and electrical are not susceptible to such management but others, such as a “new five (5) year contract to operate and maintain our water and wastewater facilities,” should be or should have been prior to signing the contract. Other CSD costs could also potentially be the source of needed funds.

It is incongruous that, during a period in which many of the Discovery Bay CSD consumers are experiencing fixed or declining incomes, the CSD requests increases that will most certainly make matters worse for many.

The behavior of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies should reflect the required behavior of its constituents. Manage your affairs in such a way that allows you to stay within your budget.

Phil and Karla Storrer, Discovery Bay