May 16, 2008 7:14 pm US/Eastern
NYC Water Rates To Rise 14-Percent
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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New Yorkers already dealing with rising gas and food prices now have another worry for their wallets: a 14-percent hike in the price of tap water.
CBS
New Yorkers already dealing with rising gas and food prices now have another worry for their wallets: a 14-percent hike in the price of tap water.
The city's water board approved the rate boost Friday morning. It's the largest in 16 years.
The hike will cost the average homeowner an extra $102 each year and goes into effect July 1.
"Make no mistake about it, this 14-and-a-half percent is unfair," said New York City Comptroller William Thompson. "It is excessive, it is unnecessary and it's wrong."
Thompson blames Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the hike, arguing that the city shouldn't be profiting from water delivery.
"The board needs to push back and say to the administration, 'This is the wrong thing to do and the rate payers need not to be gouged," he said.
A spokesman for the mayor said the water board did the right thing by approving the rate increase.
Just last year, rates went up by more than 11 percent. The Department of Environmental Protection says it needs money to cover rising costs.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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