There is nothing that can stop them.

Camidawg...the last line on this piece says..."There will be several meetings scheduled in the meantime for ratepayers to give input". It would be great that after 10/20/30 people talking to the city council (or board of trustees, at schools) their opinions were taken into consideration. But I have seen not one time the city council modify even a little a rate hike, a change of street name, a bond, nothing. They just listen politely to the citizens and olympically ignore them ALL. I have been close when some of the "trustees" make mokery of a particulary pathetic pleading. They don't gobern for the people. They rule for THEIR people and to better THEIR careers/agendas/pet-projects.

I like how utilities can just propose increases and then it happens. Well you know what, the residents of S.A. propose a decrease in abundant salaries and wasteful spending. All in favor say I.

Prepare yourselves its gonna happen. City council is in bed with SAWS and CPS.

I live in an apartment; water paid. But, I know our rent is going to go up in January! I don't remember services being increased all at one time, ever. Your mayor is to blame, because since he became an OBAMA supporter, he is the exact image of him; no respect for America, nor its citizens. Seems like he is more concerned about people that voted and qualify for Pre-K. Hope the time gets here soon so that we can vote him out of city hall!

Why are we increasing it again. CEO of SAWS has not done enough traveling. Perhaps we need a more expensive hotel and some more parties. Lets see, how about you need to quit giving bonuses and other things to the execs. The money generated is not for your personal fun at the expense of the tax payer. You bleed every dime from us and want more. There are people barely making it on what they have. Quit the crap and don't be like Commissioners Court and spend the money on a bunch of useless stuff. It is not your money to do as you please.

Re: dissolve city monopolies and demand company choices for power, water and garbage -- The fact is you still need to build the infrastructure (pipes, cables, towers, power sources) to deliver water and electricity. I would rather have one company tearing up the street than 5. And no company is going to build that infrastructure just to deliver to every 5th house. Sometimes government regulated monopolies make a lot more sense than the alternatives.

They might not need the raise if they quit giving those BIG PARTIES!!!!!!!

Only two things: Lack of accountability and lack of shame. Maybe they will stop the mega-waste when our cities start revolts like many European countries are enduring right now.

If you voted for Pre-K for SA, then please don't bother complaining as you are obviously pro-tax and rate hikes. For the rest of us who saw (no-pun intended) and tried to stop the madness before it hit; we are in for more because with Obamacare (<-- big one) and significant tax increases on the wealthy (less than 4.2% of the population), we are going to be hit hard with less jobs, cost increases (that is what SAWS has to do), cut job hours, and reduced to no retirement benefits in order to get around the financial crisis we are heading towards.