A May 7, 2009 Beacon article (”A different water rate for senior citizens?”) points out several ironic and irritating things about Fortuna's illegal water rate racket. First, the article clearly shows us that Eureka rate payers pay far less than Fortunans for water and sewage services.

Then Mayor Whitchurch has the temerity to say that a lower rate for senior citizens is illegal, yet he and the city council have no qualms about breaking state law (Proposition 218) which says you can't charge for goods (water) and services (sewage treatment) you're not receiving.

Whitchurch also rationalized (lamely and vaguely) the huge rate increses since 2006 saying, “In order to insure that the water and sewer systems remain viable into the indefinate future, we need to collect so much bottom line in order to maintain the system...” Show us. Open the books.

Fortuna's water department's rate formula overcharges the majority of Fortunans by 50 percent and more, some by up to 150 percent. The mayor's next jape is to say: “The difficult part is trying to allocate the rates fairly amongst the users.” Nonsense!

Any self-respecting 12 year old, using elementary school match could figure out a fairly accurate cost for individual households simply by reading the water meters accurately each month, a practice the water department seems to have abandonedc in 2006.

Fortuna's formula assumes that single person households use 1,866 gallons. It also unfairly charges a flat rate for sewage treatment. one person pays the same amount as a family of 12. Rotten. Unfair. Unjust.

Donn R. J. Filbert

Fortuna