What’s happening with Banning’s Water Rates?
The much anticipated water meeting at Sun Lakes on August 6th was relatively peaceful. I didn’t see any skinned knuckles or see anybody forcibly removed. I commend the Master Board, led by President George Moyer in keeping the meeting moving and trying to keep people on point. Two senior Banning staff members, Duane Burk (Public Works Director) and Kirby Warner (Interim Finance Director) were there to educate the public and field questions….
The numbers that were thrown around regarding the reasons given to raise the water and wastewater rates in the City of Banning would confound a rocket scientist! 30%, 70% and other numbers were thrown around. Lots of it seemed to be by interpretation and therein lies part of the problem.
No matter how distraught residents and businesses are regarding the pending rate increases, only one thing is for certain….. We have not figured out how to live without water. It’s just something we’ve got to have; and pay for it we will.
It doesn’t matter whether this city council, or their predecessors mucked up on their decisions, we are now in the middle of the mess. We have to have water but at what cost?
There are a great number of people in Sun Lakes, as well as throughout Banning and the rest of the country who are living on a thin margin on their “limited fixed incomes.” Raise it one more dollar and folks have to choose between taking their medication, eliminating their air conditioning, or having their water shut off. None of these choices are palatable; at least to me.
So what are our choices, particularly to Sun Lakes residents who will be dinged with a double whammy: 1) personal water/wastewater bills rising, 2) each person’s share of the $900,000 Homeowner’s Association bill.  The reality is those folks who get us behind the eight ball have got to step up to the plate and make the water rate increase….. Swallow-able.
Let’s BOMBARD the Banning City Council until they bite the bullet, stop passing things down the line for another council to deal with and come to a reasonable solution. Bob Botts and Debbie Franklin are up for re-election with a group of challengers. MAKE EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE.
If the council does not seem responsive and someone thinks they’ve got a lock on a council vote (“I’ve got 3 votes”), RECALL THE REST OF THEM AND START OVER!
I’ve recently learned that it takes considerably less signatures to petition for a recall then it does to get 50% +1 in a Prop. 218 challenge.
No matter what the folks on “the dark side” say, water conservation remains a good thing! What will bail us all out of our version of the City of Bell’s indiscretions are people waking up and fighting for what is right.
I believe it’s time for the those who set policy in the City of Banning to thing about bringing revenue into the city (through jobs and sales tax generation) than beating the over-taxed residents to death, or forcing them to go to a place that is more sustainable.
I encourage your comments. Together, we might just make a difference.