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News » Daily News: City Controller William Thompson: loosen mayor control of water board

Posted on June 08, 2009

City Controller William Thompson wants to loosen the spigot a bit on mayoral control of the city water board.

Instead of naming all the the board's seven members, Thompson said the mayor should only get four appointees, a structure that might have stemmed a 58% increase in water rates in the last four years.

He called the board's structure a "significant failure."

The most recent 13% hike will swell the average homeowner's annual bill to $903 as of July 1, up from $571 four years ago - five times the rate of inflation.

Thompson, a candidate for mayor, noted that two board members were removed last year after questioning a rate hike.

The mayor's office has not yet seen the proposal, said a spokesman.

"The board has made tough choices to prevent our best-in-the-nation water quality from suffering," said Stu Loeser.

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