Sewer Rates to Rise Gradually; Proposition Y Approved
A bond issue that is expected to result in steady increases in many St. Louisans' sewer bills won approval from voters Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
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Sewer bills are expected to rise gradually for many St. Louis residents with the passage of Proposition Y on Tuesday.
The $945 million bond issue passed with 85 percent of the vote in St. Louis County with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results. Fifteen percent of county voters rejected the measure. In St. Louis city, approximately 87 percent of voters approved the measure, while 13 percent rejected it with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
That comes out to nearly 63,000 votes in favor of the measure (85 percent) St. Louis-wide and roughly 11,000 against it (15 percent).
As a result, the sewer bill for the average single family served by the Metropolitan Sewer District of St. Louis (MSD) is expected to rise from $28.73 to $31.34 starting July 1. MSD has approximately 415,000 customer accounts, according to information posted on its website.
Voters in the county and city also approved a group of eight charter amendments aimed at conserving sewer district costs and updating antiquated language and practices.
Roughly 9 percent of registered county voters and 9 percent of registered city voters turned out for the election, which is expected to cost the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District between $1 million and $1.2 million.
The pro-Proposition Y group Clean Water STL had projected turnout of between 6 and 8 percent, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The bond money will be used to pay for upgrades to the aging sewer system.
More about the sewer vote on Patch:
More from the web
- St. Louis County Elections Board Election 2012 Headquarters
- St. Lous Post-Dispatch First trickle of votes flows to MSD's $945 million bond issue
- St. Louis County June 5, 2012: Unofficial Election Results
- St. Louis City June 5, 2012: Unofficial Election Results
Phil Gonzalez
1:41 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
MSD did great job EXTORTING the users to vote FOR an increase AND CUTTING THE LAWS PROTECTING THE sewer users. I'm selling my home and moving where there is NO sewer district. Wait, the voters just passed changes in the MSD Charter that allows MSD to claim ALL LAND throughout MIssouri and MSD will NOT HAVE LAWS TO CONTEND WITH. The voters are idiots.
Chris P
8:02 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Phil, you didn't pay very close attention. Rates were going up no matter what. The vote was whether to pay them over a shorter period of time, or issue bonds and pay them over a longer period of time. The vote was NOT *whether* to fix the sewers, which is an EPA mandate.
Phil Gonzalez
1:48 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Rates were $ 20 per YEAR in 1989. Now they are $ $ 350 per year. A 56 % rate INCREASE IS NOT gradual. Since 1990, MSD has had a 1500 % rate increase. Another rate increase of 56 % will bring that to about 2300 %. HAS YOUR SALARY GONE UP 1500 %? I don't THINK SO!!!
Chris P
5:18 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Who sent out all the expensive, professional, and most of all misleading literature supporting prop Y? It was not some local citizens' effort. It was a set of business interests intent on trying to influence our votes.
Bonnie Krueger
9:24 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I am not sure why the big 'uproar'. With other utilities--water, gas and electric--running $75 to $150 per month, why is paying $30 per month such a crime?!?! I would rather MSD handle the sewer than me having to worry about it. I think it is worth the increase to not have to deal with the sewage myself. That is money well spent!
Elizabeth O'Fallon
9:29 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I don't like that now we're not only going to be facing a rate increase that doesn't end, we will be paying 2x as much for the project due to the amount of interest that will be paid on the bonds. MSD will be financing around 1 BILLION dollars. If you look at this chart, it will be obvious we the people fell for it again. The red line is the amount we pay with the bonds (passing of Prop Y) the blue line is what we would have paid if Prop Y had failed. http://ruthcarlson.blogspot.com/ Also the representative from MSD stated they might need to more bonds in the near future and would eventually need a plan to pay for some of this with "cash" as eventually the amount they're paying in interest will be too much to make it worthwhile to do anything else. How do they get this "cash"? By raising our rates yet again...
Jean Whitney
2:29 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Elizabeth, yes I understand it costs quite a bit more in the end by using a bond issue. It's like when I buy a car with a financing, a house with a mortgage, etc. Not saying I like it though.
Bonnie Krueger
3:54 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Phil, expressing your opinion is great but being completely disrespectful of my opinion and name calling really is a discredit to your opinion. Personally, I feel that there are more important issues in my life that I am not going to worry about a MSD increase, It is not the end of my world. I hope you treat strangers with kinder respect than the response you left for me. I would be embarrassed to admit I know you.
Sarah Flagg
8:09 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Hey Bonnie,
We're sorry about that, the comment(s) have been removed.
Thanks,
Sarah
Phil Gonzalez
3:38 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
You people are so NOT knowledgeble. MSD could NEVER raise rates unilaterally. Have you SEEN the MSD Charter and the sections that were deleted AND ADDED. I have the FULL COPY in MY possession. The lackadaisical stance of the voters is unbelievable. Everything I have stated is true. What part of 1500 % increase since 1990 don't you understand? The voters were EXTORTED. Telling THE LIE that "MSD will increase your rates more" shows that MSD is of the Devil, who is The Father of Lies. And those that repeat a lie AFER being told THE TRUTH are more evil than The Father of Lies.
Bonnie Krueger
8:40 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Thank you Sarah!
Elizabeth O'Fallon
12:11 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
2 Billion dollars is a lot of money! It is more money than most of us can imagine. This is a great visual for those of you like me. This shows what a trillion dollars looks like, but million and billion are represented as well. http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html
Jean Whitney
12:33 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
That is a pretty stunning visual.
Phil Gonzalez
3:44 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
This 2 billion will be taken from the middle & upper class tax/rate payers. Over 80 % of the voters in St. Louis City & County make at most 20 % of the income in this area. Compound this fact by the fact that the state of Missouri takes MORE taxes from the St. Louis City & County AND Kansas City & Jackson county Missouri and GIVES this money to the rural counties so those tax payers can pay LESS than St. Louis City & County & Jackson counties. I have been active in politics pretty much since 1959 but intensively since 1990 and very intensely since 2000. You guys have NO clue as to what is going on. Why do you think the Tea Party people are so upset?
Phil Gonzalez
3:51 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
The reason I posted the following comment is the website said : "Wait, don't leave. you haven't told us how you feel" So, here is how it is, the reality, not how I feel, just the facts: "There are still EVIL people who spread lies on this forum and then they complain when they are caught lying. And they are EVIL." Some people can't face the fact that they are of the devil.
Elizabeth O'Fallon
8:22 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Jean, isn't it? Now multiply that trillion pic times 15 and you've got our national debt. That 945 million extra just in interest for MSD is a lot!
Nikki Dosenbach
9:18 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I accept the fact that everything is going to cost more, that's the way it has always been and will continue.
But, I didn't like the way MSD presented the increase as either/or. It really did sound like extortion as someone put it. Either pass the increase or will stick it to you even more attitude.
What upsets me the most is I found out that there are many large corporations, businessess big and small that owe thousands even hundreds of thousands MSD fees. I don't mind paying my fair share, but I do mind getting______(fill in the blank, please).
Nikki Dosenbach
9:19 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
OOPS sorry for the typo I meant "we'll".
flyoverland
9:51 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I was just wondering. If I got sued by Obama's EPA and then figured out if I settled with them I would ensure my own employment for the next 20 years, how hard would I fight that lawsuit?
Jean Whitney
10:37 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I was talking to a worker who said he'd seen the alleged wooden sewer pipes MSD has from the old days (part of the pitch that they needed to upgrade.) Then it occured to me: Who cares if sewage pipes are old—it's SEWAGE.
Donna
6:51 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
You would care if it breaks and spills raw sewage in your front yard.
Jean Whitney
8:35 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Oh, thought they were underground?
Michael Rhodes
10:01 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Most are. Yet when one breaks the untreated water enters the soil and can "bubble" up in your lawn (or elsewhere). Not been around when one breaks, although I have heard it creates a mess and can stink something fierce. I think the main concern is keeping untreated water from entering the waterways (creeks, rivers, water tables, etc...).
Holston Black Jr.
10:43 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
With the other utilities (electric, gas, telephone) you can cut back on your usage, even though you might not be as comfortable. At least you have some choice as opposed to being forced to pay more without any real input. Those of us on fixed income may find ourselves paying as much to MSD as to Ameren, Laclede, or ATT.
Michael Rhodes
7:30 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Great point. Even if you cut back your water usage your MSD bill will still be the same.
Jean Whitney
8:28 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Yes, or more. When I called MSD to say my bill seemed too high—like doubled—they told me they decided on my usage one time during the spring, and I was stuck with that rate the whole year. That was a surprise to me.
Michael Rhodes
10:05 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I seem to remember that they set the rate based on how much of your property could absorb water. Think they used county tax information to figure out your lot square footage and how much of that footage was covered by the house, driveway, sidewalks, patio, etc. They then used some formula (probably a dart board with rate levels listes) to set your rate. I think you can have them re-evaluate your property if you think it was done wrong or you make a change that effects it (removing a concrete patio as an example).