California’s Water Problems

The government is raising taxes in ways that are disguised more than ever. The newest and most creative way I have recently found is the “sewer service charge.” The city of Los Angeles through The Department of Water and Power has since July 5, 1990, imposed a 33.5% increase to residential users and a 34.1% increase to commercial water users.

This increase is so drastic that it now costs at times more to get rid of the water than to get it. The city is charging us based on the amount pumped through the meter and not on the amount that is disposed of into the sewers.

It is truly amazing that such motice and attention is given to the 5.1-cent-per-gallon gas tax and also to the various bond and sales tax issues in our most recent election, but this enormous increase went through with little or no notice.

RICKEY M. GELB

Encino