Before the usual suspects fire up their keyboards and attempt to distort what follows, what I am about to say has nothing to do with the legitimacy of the actual amount of 2010 Parker Water and Sanitation District [PWSD] rate increase but rather with the lack of honesty with which it is presented. It has all to do with PWSD wordsmithing what the increase actually is to make a saleable budget before the December 15 Recall election.

In "The Waterline", PWSD's monthly newsletter is the following paragraph:

"As reported in the Parker Chronicle, the water rate increase equals 14 percent. The average home would pay an additional $7 per month in water rates beginning in January 2010. Changes in wastewater rates, tap fees and a mil levy were also approved."

This paragraph although correct is carefully crafted to mislead its readers. How coy to innocently quote their own press release once it's printed in the Chronicle instead of providing the hard facts regardless how unpleasant!

As a consumer, at the end of the month I don't much care whether I'm paying $33 for water and $57 for sewer or $80 for water and $10 for sewer. What matters is the total bill. Iwould invite everyone to go to TAPWS.com and run a few of their own bills through the rate calculator.

Since the Recall election is December 15th, they are counting on it being too late when you figure out you've been misled or you will blame the new PWSD Board !

There are 4 components in your bill, Water Fixed, Sewer Fixed, Storm Drainage collected for the City of Parker and Water Consumption.

Water Fixed increased by 14.2% and Water Consumption increased by 14.3%. After rounding the first sentence is correct.

Sewer however, increased from $44.44 to $56.93 or 28%. The crafters of this press release carefully diminished the perceived increase by only saying "Changes in wastewater rates,..... were also approved." Unfortunately, particularly for the small user sewer is the large part of the bill!

On my 5072 gallon June 2009 bill the total actual PWSD increase would have amounted to 22% or $19.71. On my 14,609 gallon September 2009 bill, the actual increase would be 21% or $17.04.

In neither case does the increase resemble 14% or $7 as PWSD would mislead you to believe!.

The actual rates are: .......2009 ..... 2010..... Increase

Water Fixed: ......22.03 ....25.16 .......14.2%

Sewer Fixed ......44.44 ....56.93 .......28.1%

Consumption price per 1000 gal:

<20,000 ..............1.96 .......2.24......... 14.3%

Next 10,000 ........3.99....... 4.56 ........14.3%

>30,000 ...............6.27....... 7.16........ 14.3%

Once again this Board has " misled" its constituents.

Vote Recall "Yes" on December 15.

Reference: 2009 Rate Table: http://pwsd.org/pdf/rates.pdf ;2010 Rate Table:http://pwsd.org/pdf/2010RateFeeSchedule.pdf