They need to raise water rates in order to pay for their legal defense.

Anyone else notice that last year, during record rainfall our so-called leadership said not one word about water rates. Then comes a dry year, and these crooked SOBs can't find an excuse quick enough to jump rates.

I honestly think our elected officials are too stupid to be the lead on these types of things (see indicted Mayor Armstrong exhibit one), but there petty power hungry bureaucrats are driving (exhibit two, former city attorney/investigator Smith, Houston reject fire cheif Ure, henceman Buentello) this EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT BUDGETS AND POWER to benefit their theifdoms.

Of course, just my opinion.

While I agree this may not the best time to increase rates, for that matter is there ever? There are many old lines, including the downtown area, that have needed replacement for decades and for years their replacement have been put off. We are going to have to bit the bullet, pay the cost and keep our infrastructure maintained and current.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE HIKING THE WATER RATES.

It would be interesting to see the as-built drawings of the city water distribution system. As cities grow water lines are not always connected in a loop. For cost reasons many times there is line installed to pick up an area without making a loop back into the system. I would imagine in a city as old as Victoria with as much growth as it has there are many “Dead-end” runs in the water system. It is common in all cities.
The water will only originate from a few locations, I am not familiar enough with Victoria to know how many, if it is “good” at the origin and the system is sealed, no back feed, then what could and likely is, going on is the chlorine content is dropping due to stagnate (setting still) water in the system.

No dead-end line. We live in a large, relatively new, subdivision. Managers from the utilities dept. have just said they are several of these devices scattered throughout town to bleed the poor water out of the city water system. Never mind that they are destroying the asphalt where the water is gushing out :/

My Mother used to say “if Johnny jumps off a cliff are you going to follow him?” Cities that compare the cost of services to other cities as justification of rates are simply lazy. The proper rate for services is exact cost, no profit, and certainly not what another city is charging.
You might be on a “Dead-end” run of a large water line. If that is the case and there are not enough users to rotate the water in the line often enough, the line has to be flushed regularly to prevent health hazards.

A rate increase in water? I am not so sure about this one. Can we just call it a tax hike instead? I do not think that the value of water has increased as such it warrants a "rate" increase.

I like Lynn a lot and think we are lucky to have him working for the city. However I would have to question him on the logic of the increase for two reasons. First, my neighborhood has a fire hydrant with a mechanism on it that opens up the hydrant everynight and drains water until the morning. Many thousands of gallons of water by now I am guessing and it has been idicated by his department that it may be on there indefinately due to poor water quality in our "area". Second, if we are going to compare our water rates to what other cities are charging, we should do the same for our fire fighters and police and get them the salaries they deserve. Another argument imo that other people besides the city managers and dept heads should get raises based on pay-for-performance.

That is a lot for water. But buying it from a private system is different from a City.
A City should only charge exact costs of the service it provides. The Government is not a “for profit” business. So it should be cheaper.

I think we have the same garbage service.

I know that a lot of the city's water customers are going to be upset if the rates are increased... however, before you start consider yourselves lucky! I live in an area where we have a private water company and I'd gladly trade my LOWEST bill with your HIGHEST bill on any given day! I received my most recent bill just a few days ago. I don't water, I don't have a pool, spa, or a leak.... I have a small family and don't really do more than your average amount of laundry.... My base rate, water and sewage only, usually runs about $120.00 monthly. In February, my bill was nearly $300.00. I pay a seperate bill for garbage collection. That bill is around $30.00 a month for once a week pick up! Consider yourselves lucky!