哥伦布市议会拟再涨水费18% 平均家庭年账单将涨124美元 11月12日举行听证
俄亥俄州哥伦布市议会正在审议连续第二年上调水费18%的方案，公用事业委员会定于11月12日下午4时30分在市政厅举行听证会，市议会计划11月23日表决。按市水电部门测算，普通两至三口之家水费、排污费与雨水费合计年账单将从1247美元涨至1371美元，一年多付约124美元；市内用户综合账单涨幅约10%，郊区用户约11%。市政府称，增收至少2000万美元用于建设第四座水厂及其他基建项目，该水厂造价近20亿美元，今年招标时无人投标，计划2027年初重新招标。值得注意的是，市公用事业咨询委员会两名低收入与老年居民权益代表—中俄亥俄老龄事务局执行主任凯蒂·怀特与东南及中俄亥俄法律援助会律师杰基·古特—在10月会议上投下反对票，这在该委员会中较为罕见。委员会同时一致建议排污费上调4%、雨水费上调2%，但上述表决仅具咨询性质，最终决定权在市议会。主持公用事业与可持续发展委员会的市议员克里斯托弗·怀奇表示理解居民生活压力，市政府已加强水电费优惠计划的宣传，60岁以上长者与收入在联邦贫困线200%以下的家庭可申请减免。
Columbus Council Weighs Another 18% Water Rate Hike, $124 More a Year for Average Household; Hearing Nov. 12
The Columbus City Council is considering raising water rates by 18% for a second straight year. The utilities committee will hold a hearing at City Hall at 4:30 p.m. on November 12, and the council plans to vote on November 23. By the city water and power department's calculation, a typical household of two to three would see its combined annual bill for water, sewer and stormwater rise from $1,247 to $1,371, about $124 more a year; overall bills would rise about 10% for city customers and about 11% for suburban customers.
The city says the increase would raise at least $20 million for a fourth water plant and other infrastructure. The plant is estimated to cost nearly $2 billion, drew no bids when first tendered this year, and is planned for re-bidding in early 2027. Notably, two members of the city's utility advisory board representing low-income and senior residents — Katie White, executive director of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, and Jackie Gutt, an attorney with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services — voted no at the October meeting, a rare occurrence on that board. The board also unanimously recommended a 4% sewer increase and a 2% stormwater increase, but its votes are advisory only; the final decision rests with the council.
Councilmember Christopher Wyche, who chairs the utilities and sustainability committee, said he understands residents' cost pressures and that the city has stepped up promotion of its utility discount program: seniors over 60 and households earning below 200% of the federal poverty line can apply for reductions.
来源：哥伦布快报
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图片来源：图：哥伦布市天际线。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Kevin Payravi 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0。 Image: The Columbus, Ohio, skyline. Source: Wikimedia Commons, photo by Kevin Payravi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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