|
for water may
prove costly
Rectifying the unaccounted for water losses in the county’s four water districts has been a long time coming.
Officials recommend several steps, including metering hydrants where water is blown off to clear lines and putting a meter at the Town of Boardman.
The metering would at least help water district officials see how much is being blown off; then, they would be able to determine how much is being “stolen.”
The new meters would cost a few thousand dollars, but money would be saved in the long run if the loss of revenue can be curbed.
Another positive step is the recommendation to send monthly adjustment requests from water users to the county commissioners for approval or denial. The lost water “costs” the districts an average of $16,000 a month. While some adjustments are warranted, some probably aren’t.
We’re not sure why District I, for example, which has been in place for years, had only $4,763 in adjustments during a six-month period, and districts II and III exceeded $40,000. It bears further examination.
No one in districts II and III is happy with the extra tax assessments they incur because there aren’t enough customers to pay for the loans on the systems. But efforts to better monitor where the water goes should mean that those who might be getting free water aren’t stiffing those who have to pay for it.
Ultimately, the best way to reduce the high taxes in districts II and III is to get more revenue from customers, and these recommendations by Public Utilities Director Leroy Sellers and Finance Director Leo Hunt should help.