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Philly Revenue Dept: The burden to keep water bills accurate is on residents
Reports of surprise water bills around the city have gotten Council's attention, but Revenue says residents' sticker shock is their own fault.
Philly Revenue Dept: The burden to keep water bills accurate is on residents
Council President Darrell Clarke lives on a quiet street in a probably gerrymandered corner of his district, but he says that when his handful of near neighbors have a problem, they don't hesitate to pound on his door. So lately, he's been hearing about surprise water bills, like one that skyrocketed from an estimated $80 monthly bill to an actual reading of $1,300. The city has been going around replacing meter batteries around the city, which is what's touching off some of the issues. Clarke asked Philly Deputy Revenue Commissioner Michelle Bethel about the problem today at Council's budget hearing. Clarke said even if that one reading was a mistake, a bigger policy issue remains. Bethel's response:"If a customer sees an estimated reading [denoted as an 'E' on the bill], they should contact us."
"Why is it the customer's responsibility?" Clarke asked, about three different ways. There were assertions that some of us purposefully avoid allowing meter repairs, and promises to be proactive, but no real answer. Clarke pledged to have a follow-up meeting with the Revenue Department on the topic. In the meantime, residents can be charged penalties and interest in what many feel are unfair surprises.
It wasn't the only disappointing response from Revenue. Asked by Clarke if there was anything that could be done to induce Payment in Lieu of Taxes, the short answer was "probably not," although at least something may be done to reduce water subsidies. "We're trying to get creative," Revenue Commissioner Keith Richardson said.
What about the money we're spending to outsource collections, rather than investing in the technology and personnel needed to keep it in house, Councilman Curtis Jones wanted to know. "Good question," Richardson offered. "I don't go for that," Jones said. "You say, 'That's a good question, Councilman,' and then it goes into the abyss." He wanted a study instead.
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