[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish residents could see new water bill fee

[Westley Annis]

I don't mind an extra fee, but $25 - $50 is a bit out of the box ! 


-----Original Message-----

St. Bernard Parish residents could see new water bill fee 

CHALMETTE, La. -- Residents in Saint Bernard Parish could soon see their 

water bills go up. 

 

Next week, parish officials will look at a proposal to add an extra fee to 

help balance the budget. Residents could see an extra $25 to $50 dollars 

added to their monthly water bills. 

 

Parish officials say sales tax revenue is down and the extra money will help


pay the bills. 

 

"It's a beautiful park and it's one of those things they fixed up after the 

storm," said Marcus Chalona. 

 

The Chalmette man and his grandsons love to play at Sydney Torres Memorial 

Park, where Eyewitness News caught up with him. 

 

St. Bernard Parish officials say adding an extra fee to resident's water 

bills will help pay for parks like that one. 

 

"I can see what's been happening in the parish and it's pretty 

understandable that they're going to have to find a source of revenue 

somewhere," said Chalona. 

 

"I believe the sales tax is approximately $6 million in reduction of sales 

tax revenues collected this year based on budget that was presented," said 

St. Bernard Parish Councilman Guy McInnis, who points to less B.P. oil spill


workers and levee construction crews in the area compared to a year or two 

ago. 

 

McInnis said that has negatively impacted sales tax revenues. 

 

McInnis also said Saint Bernard Parish budgeted for $20 million in sales tax


revenue; instead, $15 or $16 million is expected to be collected. 

 

"Sooner or later something has got to give and we're not going to, this 

council and this administration, isn't going to go into deficit spending," 

said McInnis. 

 

According to parish documents, the extra fee would go toward paying for 

services like the fire department, recreation, public works, mosquito 

control, road lighting and sanitation. 

 

However, for some residents like Pete Lavaty, an extra fee on his water bill


is just a bad idea. 

 

"It makes me feel not good. Our mortgage is high, and we have enough 

utilities as it is," said Lavaty. 

 

The proposed water bill fee will be officially introduced next week during 

Tuesday's Parish Council Meeting at 11 a.m. It will also be discussed during


Monday night's Executive Finance Committee at 4 p.m. 

 

McInnis said it won't be officially voted on until later in the month and 

that public input is welcome.