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PHILADELPHIA – Immediately, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Giant) launched the next assertion in response to the Philadelphia Water Division’s proposed fee will increase for 2023 and 2024:
“I used to be shocked to see that after urging the Philadelphia Water Division (PWD) to make use of federal infrastructure {dollars} to assist restore our Metropolis’s getting older water programs throughout final yr’s finances hearings, they’ve chosen to maneuver ahead with rising charges on prospects by at the very least 20.1 % over the following two years. Whereas inflation is making it harder to implement investments in important infrastructure enhancements, and to pay for personnel, provides and therapy chemical substances, this isn’t one of the simplest ways to maneuver ahead, we can’t proceed to boost prices on our residents when we’ve different choices.
“Philadelphia had a $779 million fund steadiness on the finish of the final fiscal yr, and we lately put $40 million in an Inflation Reserve Fund to deal with working and capital value will increase. We even have American Rescue Plan Funds obtainable by Fiscal 12 months 2025. These ARPA funds are simply sitting within the financial institution after they could possibly be partially used to assist make wanted water infrastructure investments that deal with environmental justice and enhance high quality of life.
“Moreover, we should think about final yr’s property reassessment, which has been a problem for a lot of households. Between these will increase and the elevated prices of meals and family items, a 20 % water invoice improve could have a unfavourable influence on Philadelphians – particularly middle-class households who are sometimes ineligible for help packages and are already struggling to get by.
“I’m calling on the Philadelphia Water Division to return to the drafting board and give you a good resolution that helps us meet our objective of upgrading our getting older water infrastructure programs and addressing environmental justice points with out drowning Philadelphia residents in further prices.”
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