The White Sulphur Springs City Council has voted to raise water and sewer rates despite community opposition.
“Our hands are tied,” said councilmember Audrey VanBuren during the public hearing on Tuesday evening, Nov. 14.
The public hearing was held at 6 p.m. prior to the regular meeting of city council at 7. The public hearing was required before the third and final vote on rate increase, which will raise water rates by 28% and sewer rates by 25% for city customers.
All members of council were present, and the city hall meeting room was full of concerned citizens. Eight citizens spoke during the public hearing, all speaking out against the rate increase and most of them citing high inflation and low incomes as the reasons they are against the hike.
Citizen James Moran addressed council, stating that he was speaking on behalf of his elderly mother. Moran read statistics stating that West Virginia has the second highest water rates in the country while also being 47th in the country in income. Meanwhile, he said, White Sulphur Springs is home to lots of seniors who are on fixed incomes.
“I appreciate that the city is growing,” he said. “But it should not grow at the expense of those who cannot afford it; and my 93-year-old mother cannot afford it.”
Citizen Josh Watson spoke next. “Most everyone in White Sulphur lives paycheck to paycheck,” he said.
Citizen Adam Roberts echoed the previous sentiments. “Like it was said before, most folks live paycheck to paycheck. What will the increase do to those on fixed incomes?” he asked.
Council members addressed the citizens’ concerns by stating that they had no choice but to raise rates.
Councilmember G.P. Parker, who oversees the city finance committee, told those gathered that the state now mandates that municipalities create a savings account storing 10% of their water and sewer budget in case of future water and sewer emergencies. Parker referred to the rule as an “unfunded mandate” and said that the rate increases will help the city to establish that savings account in addition to paying for infrastructure costs associated with maintaining water and sewer utilities.
Mayor Bruce Bowling acknowledged that the 28% and 25% increases were steep but reminded citizens that water rates haven’t been raised in 12 years.
“You all pay a penny a gallon” for water, said Bowling. After the rate increase, he said, the water rate will be 1.28 cents per gallon.
Councilmember Mark Gillespie reminded those in attendance that should the council vote to increase the rates, it was the right of every citizen to call the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and speak against it.
Following the public hearing, city council convened in regular session where the third and final reading of the water and sewer rate increase was on the agenda.
The council voted unanimously to pass the increases.
Later in the meeting, Gillespie made a motion to revoke the West Virginia Great Barrel Company’s exemption from paying the city’s business and operations tax.
Before making the motion, Gillespie quoted from Article 765, the associated B&O tax ordinance, where he read aloud from the ordinance that the city implemented the B&O tax due to the lack of “limited resources and consistent revenue,” and that the tax would provide “sustainability and viability” to the city.
Gillespie further stated that the ordinance indicated that all businesses that are exempt from the B&O tax ordinance are required to submit to the city quarterly income reports and a yearly report on gross proceeds or income. Such businesses are also required to maintain a city business license.
Gillespie stated that as of the time of the meeting, the West Virginia Great Barrel Company had never submitted any income reports to the city. Further, he said, “As of Nov. 14, the barrel company does not have a White Sulphur Springs business license.
“Any agreement made with the barrel company is null and void,” Gillespie said.
At that point, White Sulphur city financial secretary Linda Coleman spoke up from the audience and said that as of the evening Nov. 14, the West Virginia Great Barrel Company had a current city license.
“But,” said Gillespie. “No quarterly reports have been made.”
Gillespie’s motion to nullify the barrel company’s B&O tax exemption was seconded by VanBuren.
In a roll-call vote, Mark Gillespie, Audrey VanBuren and recorder Kathy Glover voted to nullify the agreement, and councilmembers Chris Hanna, Mary Collins, G.P. Parker and Mayor Bill Bowling voted against the nullification, meaning that the West Virginia Great Barrel Company can continue its B&O tax exemption for the length of the agreement.
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