Water abounds in our state. Great fresh water seas surround our beautiful peninsulas. We are the Saudi Arabia of water. Grand Rapids has a world class water system built by our taxpayers and system users.
Water freezes this time of year yet increased prices continue to flow annually when the Grand Rapids City Commission faces their decision to increase the costs of water and sewer rates for the 260,000 customers in the city and the suburban users of the system. This year customers are faced with water rates increasing by an average of 9.89 per cent while sewer rates are hitting 14.04 percent.
A combination of reduced consumption, driven partially by wet weather reducing the need for sprinkling means water rates have to be raised to cover the system’s cost. If the big commercial users’ volume is down, residential home owners trying to conserve to save money and the environment get hosed under this formula. Shouldn’t conservation be rewarded instead of punished?
Sewer rates have a slightly better rational for increase based on expensive development projects in the suburbs along with the city’s ongoing construction to separate the storm water and sewer systems to prevent sewage overflow into the Grand River. Shouldn’t developers pay more of the cost for increasing the strain on our system?
To their credit, Commissioners and the Mayor raised the usual complaints, but it remains to be seen if in the coming years rates will smooth out in a fairer and more logical formula. When I was a Commissioner I not only raised the previous questions, but also asked why, when the system had a large surplus, were bills increasing? Government is not there to make a profit. I pressed for conservation efforts to be rewarded not discouraged. Every year officials promised to look into the matter and report back, just like it appears they are going to do this year. Let’s encourage the Commission to keep the pressure on until we have a system that makes sense.
There was one good byproduct of my years of perseverance. I successfully pushed for and was able to vote on before I left a program to help those needing assistance paying their bills. It is called the Individual Circuit Breaker Program (ICB). The details are listed below. So let’s keep the pressure on city officials to come up with a more just formula that makes sense, but if you need help look into the ICB. This may be the first drop in washing out the problems within the system. Government after all works for you, as do our leaders. Never hesitate to remind them.
Individual Circuit Breaker Assistance Program
The purpose of the ICB Assistance Program is to provide funds for retail customers requiring assistance in paying their water and sewer bills. As part of the Third Amendment to the Water and Sanitary Sewer Service Agreement with Customer Communities, each year up to 12.5% of the penalty fees paid by retail water and sewer customers during the prior year will be set aside to support this program. The City of Grand Rapids has entered into a contract to administer these funds with the Area Community Service Employment Training Council (ACSET). Some of the eligibility guidelines are as follows:
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be a Grand Rapids water system/sewer system customer.
- Must be at or below 200% of current federal poverty limit - income calculated on 30 days forward including the date of application.
- Applicant must provide a copy of the City of Grand Rapids Water and Sewer utility bill in their name.
- Applicant must be property owner and the principle resident of the property, or the legal tenant of the property with water sewer payment responsibility (bill in their name).
- Applicant must be in shut-off status and/or service must be off.
Eligible Activities:
- City of Grand Rapids Water/Sewer Bill Payments
- Cannot pay reconnect fees or deposits
Please contact ACSET for further information or to schedule an appointment at one of these locations. Intake is by appointment only:
Sheldon Complex: 336-4000
West Side Complex: 336-4180
NorthEast Complex: 336-7740
