You should read the comments in the Villager. Another bond Election goimg with higher water bills and taxes. One of the guys is a MUD board member. You need to read the whole letter. Lot of good info.

 

 

SJRA Dynasty

 

Now that our political leaders have had their “water summit” it appears that we are finally ready to move forward with our $500 million partial conversion to surface water. As a director of one of the MUDs in The Woodlands, I have been a supporter of the San Jacinto River Authority WRAP to equitably distribute the cost to all affected residents of Montgomery County. However, I have been a vocal critic of its plan to unilaterally establish a division to finance, construct and operate the initial treatment plant and future expansions with no input from customers of the WRAP.

 

Kent Maggert, The Woodlands

 

WJPA Water Rates

 

The WJPA website states its objective as “to provide the MUDs we serve with professional, reliable, and quality services with fiscal responsibility.” I noticed recent announcements of water rate increases and then received a mailer this week announcing the same in the name of conservation. The mailer states that an average bill will increase $7 a month but gives no actual new water rates. Why?

 

I went to the WJPA website again and was shocked to see that the actual increases were 35 percent for 6-30k gal/billing cycle, 70.5 percent for 30-60k gal/cycle and 127 percent increase above 60k gal/cycle. These increases are on top of a 50-plus percent increase in the irrigation rate since December 2007. Actual fuel/labor costs are down so what is “fiscally” going on here? Seems like a a war chest of cash is in the mix. Why does the WJPA need this cash?

 

Also, if the water imbalance problems were known, then why were additional Town Center area water parks, The Waterway, water parks for VillaSport, The Woodlands Resort, etc., all sanctioned? The main developers, builders and new home buyers should pay a heavy burden for this new water resource development also instead of just large lot owners? Oh, yes, The Woodlands is actually the land developer and they control policy so why limit their future income?

 

Finally, The Woodlands mandates a minimum percentage of our lot as landscaped to ensure standards of natural beauty. The new de facto mandate is to “starve your mandated trees and lawn to death or remove them” because they will be taxed to death anyway. This large lot tax to fund alternative water sources is unacceptable and the management of this water issue has been done without full disclosure. I suggest we wake up and prepare for more increases because of the unrestricted growth and limited ability to conserve water in the required quantities.

 

Either speak up or fire up your chainsaws.

 

Dave Stewart, The Woodlands