CANFIELD Council raises sewer tax

Council also granted raises to its nonunion employees.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Some city residents say they'll work to repeal two sewer-tax increases set to take effect Jan. 1.
"Nobody's too thrilled about this rate increase," said Fairview Avenue resident Donna Bishop. "This is ridiculous."
City council voted 3-1 Wednesday to increase the sanitary-sewer tax from $3.75 per 1,000 gallons of water to $5.25 per 1,000 gallons. Lawmakers also voted 3-1 to increase the monthly residential storm-sewer fee from $1 to $3 on Jan. 1.
Council President Kevin Hughes dissented on both votes.
Council also voted unanimously Wednesday to give its nonunion employees a $1,500 pay raise next year.
Aiming for a repeal
Bishop said she will work to find out what she needs to do to have the sewer-tax increases repealed. Residents presented council with petitions containing the signatures of 100 residents opposed to the sanitary sewer increase.
"They ignore the petitions; they ignore everything," Bishop said.
City officials have said the sanitary-sewer rate increase is needed because the city's sanitary-sewer fund is shrinking. Sanitary-sewer rates haven't been raised since 1999.
The storm-sewer increase is needed to pay for projects to address flooding problems, they said.
Council member Sam Boak argued that even with the increases, city residents still pay less for sewer service than residents of most area communities. He said he decided to vote for the increases after comparing sewer rates in the city to sewer rates in other communities where he owns property.
That comment drew an angry response from Bishop.
"There are a lot of us that don't have substantial properties that live right here in Canfield that are low income, and these rates are hard on us," she said.
Fairview Avenue resident Gretchen Bell added that she believes some public officials see taxpayers as a "cash cow."
"The cow is drying up," she said.
Kathy McPhee, an East Main Street resident who works as a school bus driver, said sewer rates will increase faster than her salary.
"I don't get a raise this year; I don't get a raise next year; but you guys keep increasing your rates," she told council.
Boak noted that the city needs the storm-sewer money to address flooding concerns raised by residents this summer. He said many of the flooding problems stem from outdated storm sewers.
Council member's view
Council member Dennis Wilde noted storm-sewer problems need to be addressed in areas around Fairview Avenue and Hood Drive.
"We want to help the people there and the city of Canfield," he said.
Hughes, however, said he believed council could have had money for sewer projects and kept the sanitary-sewer rate increase to $4.70 and still had money for sewer projects. He added that he understands residents aren't happy with tax increases.
"I know we're saying it's only a little bit more. I think everybody's tired of the nickel and diming," he said.
Some city residents also stressed that they weren't happy with council's decision to give its employees $1,500 raises.
"The public sector seems clueless as to what's happening in the real world," Bell said.
Hughes said council tries to give raises to its nonunion employees that are similar to those given to police under their union contract.
hill@vindy.com