Plano Pocketing Money From Water

8/11/2018

The City of Plano uses homeowners to make a HUGE profit on water. Plano buys water from the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) at “wholesale” prices and sells it to Plano taxpayers at “retail” prices. According to page 57 of the 2018/2019 City Managers Recommended Budget, selling residents water at retail prices generates millions of dollars in profit every year. The city transfers the profits to multiple funds. The fund that gets most of the profits is the General Fund. In the fiscal year of 2015/2016 the city transferred over 17 million to the General fund. In 2017/2018 the city is estimating to put over 17 million in the General fund. For 2018/2019 the city is projecting to put over 18 million in the General. All of this money is from water/sewer profits.
Other cities don't make a profit on water. Plano does not do anything to the water to clean it or make it taste better. The water taste terrible. Residents complain that the water makes them and their pets sick during the months the NTMWD choline burns the pipes. Residents also say the water causes skin problems during that time. So why do they need to overcharge residents for water? Plano also got a rebate of 2-4 million dollars form NTMWD. The city did not pass that rebate on to the people who actually paid for the horrible water.
So what does the city do with the large windfall it makes off of water? Well, one year, the city used this profit to cover a $12,000,000 renovation of West Plano's sewer lift. Now, I know what you're thinking. Doesn't the city have to pay for sewer lift upgrades? This would be correct, however the only reason the lift needed upgrading was because of a certain development we didn't want; Legacy West. The city should have billed the developer of Legacy West, instead of using the Plano citizens' money. Instead of using the money, the city made by gouging the residents, to lower Property Taxes to the effective tax rate (which would take $12,000,000), the city saved a wealthy developer, $12,000,000. So while you are wondering how you are going to pay for a higher tax bill in January, the city is raking in the money from your water bill and giving it to wealthy corporations and developers. This is something I would expect from politicians in DC. Since our local politicians and bureaucrats behaves like those in Washington DC, perhaps we should change the name of Plano to Washington DP (District of Plano.)
This is Plano's Political Pit Bull Signing off.
To read the budget for yourself go to http://plano.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32268/2018-19-CITY-MANAGERS-REC-BUDGET?bidId=

7 Comments

Allan Batteiger

8/11/2018 03:24:44 pm

If the truth was being told the city is not profiting from our water bills the mo Ira are used to pay for the bonds used to build the water and sewage mains and to maintain them. Also the public works Dept is funded from this income. They are the folks responsible for making sure trash and recycling as well as bulk pickup are done. Also they clean up from storms etc. the writer of this article is extremely uninformed

Plano's Political Pit Bull

8/12/2018 11:26:46 am

The facts are all in the cities budget. If you bothered to look it up for your self you would have seen the following
2016-2017
TOTAL REVENUES $143,967,323
TOTAL OPERATIONS $114,508,827
The city made more money on water then they spent on it. That is called a profit.
Transfer from water profits to General Fund $17,593,082
2017-2018
Revenues $160,538,434
Operations $128,813,367
Transfer to General Fund $17,114,858
2018-2019
Revenues $178,768,100
Operations $139,600,261
Transfer to General Fund $18,092,411

Trash is paid for by the residents with a trash fee. It is on your water bill.

If the city want to save the extra money it makes off of water for repairs, it would put it in the Capital Maintenance fund. That fund goes for repairs. None of the water money goes to the Capital Matt fund. If it did it, would be listed in the budget.

Those are the facts. If you have any proof to back up your statements, show it.

Jerry

8/11/2018 04:24:51 pm

When the sewer lines to your neighborhood need maintenance, we’ll send the bill to you Pitbull, k?

Civics 101: Sewer lines are public utilities. You don’t get to mandate that they only go to those developments you like personaliy. Sheesh. Why do you blog when you don’t understand such basic stuff? Please stop spewing this ignorant baloney.

8/12/2018 11:34:56 am

When a person builds a house, a church, or small business that person pays the city to attach to the water and sewers lines. Ask any contractor. Our lift station did not have the capacity to take on the Legacy West development. Council and city planners should of thought of that before they approved the Legacy West Development.
My articles are based on facts provided by the city. If you don't like it complain to the city.

8/12/2018 11:03:49 am

Any comments that insults or call people names will be deleted. If you have a differing opinion, that is fine. Any comment that bullies will be deleted. I am not the government, so the first amendment does not apply. This is my web page. If you are disrespectful your comment will be deleted.

ray sheriff

8/18/2018 07:02:04 am

The City has changed the tear levels so thy can charge more then in past years. This was done to profit off the people of Plano. This was all done in the years we had low rainfall. If the city needs money they should be open about it. We need a new City manager to start and a Mayor that works for the people of plano also I want to state that this is not political left or right just what should happen.

8/18/2018 07:06:13 am

Tier instead or tear. I cry every time a water bill comes in!!!

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Plano Pocketing Money From Water

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