Thursday letters: Stop raiding Columbia’s water-sewer fund

Columbia’s mayor and City Council need to overhaul some of their worst budgeting practices.

First, they should end the raids on the water and sewer fund. If the water and sewer system’s needs are so great that a huge rate increase is necessary, common sense tells us that they must stop transferring revenue out of the account.

And they should scrap their franchise fee increase, which will most hurt lower-income residents.

Some justify the continued water-sewer raids and the franchise fee increase by exploiting citizens’ support for public safety.

As founder of a nonprofit that purchases bulletproof vests for police, my support for law enforcement should be clear. But truly prioritizing law enforcement means funding public safety first, before non-essentials, and doing so out of the general fund.

Using water-sewer revenue for public safety suggests that public safety is an afterthought, not a priority.

Columbia