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Sat, Feb

A rich drink of water.    Your Daily Rate Hike report.

COLUMBIA, Mo  9/1/17 (Beat Byte) -- Columbia city manager "Merciless Mike" Matthes wants the Columbia City Council to approve an astounding array of utility rate hikes, starting with water bills and late fees. 

He wants to DOUBLE utility bill late fees, from 1.5% to 3% of the balance due.

He also wants a 33% increase in the charge for new homes to tap into the city's water supply. 

1-inch pipe size tap fee increase from $750.00 to $1,000.00.

1½—2-inch or 1-inch commercial  tap fee increase from $250.00 to $335.00.
 
Monthly water bills under the Matthes plan will be especially costly, rising from 10% to 622%, depending on the size of the water line. 

Standard 5/8 and 3/4-inch up 10%, from $8.85 to $9.75 per month.

1-inch up 33%, from $10.52 to $14.04 per month.
 
1½-inch up 65%, from $17.09 to $28.25 per month.
 
2-inc  up 126%, from $18.51 to $42.00 per month.
 
3-inch up 332%, from $34.01 to $147.00 per month.
 
4-inch up 544%, from $50.42 to $325.00 per month.

6-inch up 622%, from $96.95 to $700.00 per month.

 
To recap, Matthes wants to double utility bill late charges; increase fees to tap the city's water lines 33%; and hike water bills from 10% to 622%, depending on the size of the water line. 

The 2017 annual inflation rate was 1.6%.  And Columbia is again Missouri's highest cost-of-living city. 

 
Voice your opinion.   Contact the Columbia City Council:

Brian Treece, Mayor
Mayor@como.gov

Clyde Ruffin
Ward1@como.gov

Michael Trapp
Ward2@como.gov

Karl Skala
Ward3@como.gov

Ian Thomas
Ward4@como.gov

Matt Pitzer
Ward5@como.gov

Betsy Peters  
Ward6@como.gov



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