- Target:
- City of Santa Barbara
- Region:
- United States of America
Drip ... drip ... drip ... drip ... drip ... That sound you hear is the water torture of Santa Barbara's water/sewer bill. Even if you use no water, residential customers will soon have to pay $46.06 in minimum monthly service charges. These minimum water/sewer service charges are among the highest in the entire country.
If you are a grandma trying to make do on social security, annually paying the city $552 in minimum water/sewer service charges will be a significant bite out of your check -- and a real financial burden. If you are living on fixed income with increasing costs there is less money for food.
Low-income residents with children on a tight budget typically need more water, but end up paying a disproportionately higher share of the city's water budget. Why does Santa Barbara have the most backward and regressive water/sewer rate schedule of any city in the United States? Why should the desalination plant be paid for by the poorest local residents? Santa Barbara has many disabled and elderly who have lived here and struggle every month to pay this bill.
Currently, the only discount is a tax discount. This is not enough and since 13.9%, 12,766 of Santa Barbara's residents live under the poverty line; and 34% for the County. 5.6% 5,143 of our population is disabled under age 65. We are asking for a 20% discount for our low income individuals who are serviced by the City of Santa Barbara in addition to the non-taxed accounts.
Drip ... drip ... drip ... drip ... drip ... That sound you hear is the water torture of Santa Barbara's water/sewer bill. Even if you use no water, residential customers will soon have to pay $46.06 in minimum monthly service charges. These minimum water/sewer service charges are among the highest in the entire country.
If you are a grandma trying to make do on social security, annually paying the city $552 in minimum water/sewer service charges will be a significant bite out of your check -- and a real financial burden. If you are living on fixed income with increasing costs there is less money for food.
Low-income residents with children on a tight budget typically need more water, but end up paying a disproportionately higher share of the city's water budget. Why does Santa Barbara have the most backward and regressive water/sewer rate schedule of any city in the United States? Why should the desalination plant be paid for by the poorest local residents? Santa Barbara has many disabled and elderly who have lived here and struggle every month to pay this bill.
Currently, the only discount is a tax discount. This is not enough and since 13.9%, 12,766 of Santa Barbara's residents live under the poverty line; and 34% for the County. 5.6% 5,143 of our population is disabled under age 65. We are asking for a 20% discount for our low income individuals who are serviced by the City of Santa Barbara in addition to the non-taxed accounts.
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The 20% Low Income Discount for City of Santa Barbara Water, Sewer, & Trash petition to City of Santa Barbara was written by Amy Perkins and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.