Power Line to my house was broken

[MoKelly]

We have water but don't have sewerage in our rural section of the parish. People with sewerage are charged according to the amount of water they use. When one greedy politician found out that there were hundreds of us without sewerage not paying anything for it, he got a proposition passed to put a sewerage surcharge on everyone's property tax bill so now we are paying for something we don't even get.

That would tend to be upsetting. I think to be fair, the politician needs to reimburse you for your septic system that those with sewers did not pay.

MoKelly

 

[bcp]

We have water but don't have sewerage in our rural section of the parish. People with sewerage are charged according to the amount of water they use. When one greedy politician found out that there were hundreds of us without sewerage not paying anything for it, he got a proposition passed to put a sewerage surcharge on everyone's property tax bill so now we are paying for something we don't even get.

Send him a bill for plowing his driveway, because you could have.

Bruce

 

[goeduck]

We have water but don't have sewerage in our rural section of the parish. People with sewerage are charged according to the amount of water they use. When one greedy politician found out that there were hundreds of us without sewerage not paying anything for it, he got a proposition passed to put a sewerage surcharge on everyone's property tax bill so now we are paying for something we don't even get.

Trying to understand... Are you on public water and not on a well? I understand you are not on public sewer.

I had that situation on a house my wife inherited, but we sold it prior to getting around to dealing with it. House property was annexed by the city but the county (prior to the annexation) had never provided sewer services. Got invoiced for sewer regardless

 

[tallyho8]

Trying to understand... Are you on public water and not on a well? I understand you are not on public sewer.

I had that situation on a house my wife inherited, but we sold it prior to getting around to dealing with it. House property was annexed by the city but the county (prior to the annexation) had never provided sewer services. Got invoiced for sewer regardless

Right. I am on public water, no well. There is no sewerage available in the rural area that I live in although sewer lines run across my property connecting a subdivision miles away to the public sewerage station.

 

[ultrarunner]

When people don’t want to pay water bill here they fill meter box with scrap metal and concrete to get a few months.

 

[goeduck]

Right. I am on public water, no well. There is no sewerage available in the rural area that I live in although sewer lines run across my property connecting a subdivision miles away to the public sewerage station.

That is a raw deal. I do not understand how municipalities can charge for services not provided. My guess is that not enough people are impacted to make enough of a fuss. I bet the municipality's invoicing system does not anticipate a person on municipal water but not on municipal sewer and they choose to ignore those impacted. I would be making some noise at council meetings and writing letters asking for an attorney's response as to how they can charge for services not provided.

 

[ultrarunner]

Happened to a Doctor I work with... paid several years the sewage and sewage treatment fee.

Had a problem and city out... person said Lady there is no city sewer here.

She fought it hard and was able to stop all charges going forward and refund 3 years going back...

 

[kenmbz]

I worked at a larger water company, any complaints of mis-charge like this were updated in the billing system.
For smaller companies, probably one size fits all billing.

 

[tallyho8]

That is a raw deal. I do not understand how municipalities can charge for services not provided. My guess is that not enough people are impacted to make enough of a fuss. I bet the municipality's invoicing system does not anticipate a person on municipal water but not on municipal sewer and they choose to ignore those impacted. I would be making some noise at council meetings and writing letters asking for an attorney's response as to how they can charge for services not provided.

The parish officials explained it like this:
Our property tax bills are made up of many different charges. They have taxes to support the school system, taxes to support road maintenance, taxes to pay for our parks, etc. People who don't have kids in school still have to pay to support the schools. People with no cars still have to pay to maintain the roads. People who never go to the park still have to help pay for the park. People with no sewerage still have to help pay for the sewerage. Like it or not, that how life works.

 

[bcp]

... People with no sewerage still have to help pay for the sewerage. Like it or not, that how life works.

If they have city water but no sewage, they shouldn't pay for sewer based on their water usage. Maybe a lower flat rate.

Bruce