Submitted by User_Name13 t3_10lv1ty in philadelphia
Comments
[deleted] t1_j610q9l wrote
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pianomanzano t1_j61pqfk wrote
How many delinquent property owners out there with 10k+ owed to the department? Tried looking it up but couldn’t find anything and was just curious if there was a recent comptroller report or something that has the figure.
JBizznass t1_j61xrz9 wrote
I’m not sure but you can look up all the unpaid liens the PWD has secured in Common Pleas court. There is a whole team of lawyers who just do that day in and day out so you know those numbers are significant.
Robo-boogie t1_j6769n4 wrote
Isn’t it businesses that have these debts?
trashpandarevolution t1_j61ffwa wrote
but equity
JBizznass t1_j61gg74 wrote
Equity doesn’t mean that people who willingly choose not to pay their bills or sign up for any of the numerous assistance programs get a pass on consequences.
Scumandvillany t1_j5zxkm5 wrote
My bill is already at 90$ easy for a family of four. The increase is to pay for people that can't or won't. I remember when you were able to look up how much people owed, it was kinda fucked up to see honestly. Like people just don't pay.
And I know there's economic hardships etc, and I think the city is doing a better job at reducing the outstanding bills, but there's a good percentage of people who can pay but just don't. Again, because there's no consequences.
JBizznass t1_j60x21v wrote
There is no consequence to not paying so people just don’t. The only consequence is that you have to pay when you sell the property, but these delinquents just pass the property on to a relative and keep the tally going. And they never turn it off.
[deleted] t1_j610kw2 wrote
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[deleted] t1_j62iwmt wrote
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dtcstylez10 t1_j60b9bc wrote
Lol fuck this city
H00die5zn t1_j5z9c0i wrote
They’re gonna struggle to maintain the system even with the increase. Who are they kidding?!
throwawaitnine t1_j5zwcnr wrote
Crudely, if you take the population of Philadelphia 1.5m and compare it to the population of the United States 331m and extrapolate PWD's estimated budget increase ($75m) on that basis, you come up with a very crude figure, with nothing else considered of $16.5b budget increase for all water departments, everywhere in the US, very crude.
$16.5b that water departments want to pass on to Americans in what is sure to be trying times. Now think about what else the US government is spending billions on instead of US water infrastructure.
Ilminded t1_j601049 wrote
But they want to privatize the water department…… Imagine what would happen if that happened!
JBizznass t1_j60xfbm wrote
Aqua in the burbs is way cheaper than PWD and maintains their infrastructure way better.
TrustThe_CPA_Process t1_j63xqjs wrote
No it isn’t lol. Family of 5 paying over $200/month for water… in a good month. PA American Water is terrible. Aqua might be slightly better but won’t be cheaper than PWD.
JBizznass t1_j643vhu wrote
Our water cost went significantly down when we moved from PGW to Aqua for the same usage. So maybe you are just using a lot of water. Perhaps you should evaluate your water usage. Maybe get more water efficient appliances. Showers not baths. Have a professional check for leaks. Etc.
Edit: confirmed with my partner - the city was $90+ a month and Aqua is less than $70 a month
Probability-Bot t1_j60iid3 wrote
Of course Jimbo the Drunk says its OK. Mentioned in the article but they always ask for more to get what they really want or as close to it as possible.
goodvibesandsunshine t1_j66zlbj wrote
My bill is always like $100+ and it’s only myself and my husband. This is ridiculous.
Meatfrom1stgrade t1_j6cymqn wrote
It's just the 2 of us in my house, and we only pay about $65 per month in South Philly. You might have an issue somewhere, or you just use a lot of water.
sirauron14 t1_j62ea0a wrote
It's wild how there's no competition but they want more money. This is absurd
starshiprarity t1_j60tcuo wrote
This is what happens when you repeatedly deny or reduce requests made in the past. Those costs don't go away, they just come more expensive later problems
JBizznass t1_j60wuzg wrote
Before raising everyone’s rates they should really consider collecting all the money owed to them from delinquent property owners. You shouldn’t be allowed to owe the water department $10k+ and still have your dam water on. Turn it off and get a lien. PWD should also be able to force a sals of the property for unpaid liens.