"We are wasting taxpayers money," San Diego City Councilmember Carl Demaio said Sunday. "Enough is enough. Stop soaking San Diegans with higher water rates."
Demaio was joined by a group of supporters in Rancho Bernardo to protest a possible increase in the city's water rates.
The council will vote Monday whether to increase rates by almost 6%. It works out to about $4 per month per single family home.
"It just makes me irritated," said Gary Gardner at Sunday's rally. "They just keep taking and taking and taking."
Demaio claims there is a choice. He's pushing for reform of the water department's pension system to help save money.
"The increased costs in the water department's budget are directly attributed to higher labor costs." says Demaio.
According a mayor's spokesperson, there is no other choice. Starting the first of the year the county's water authority was forced to pay more for the water it brings into the county. As a result, they would pass the cost along to the consumer.
San Diegans who oppose the rate increase have until Monday to fill out and drop off their Prop 218 protest form. The form was mailed out to voters last year, but can also be found on the city's website.
If the council approves the rate increase, it would go into effect at the beginning of March.
