My city council voted on Dec. 7, 1999 to drastically increase water, sewer, and garbage rates through 2004. While the vote was 12/7/99, actual increases didn't go into effect until January 2000, first showing up on my February 2000 bill. Is this legal???

-- Bill W. Neely (bneely@northcascades.net), February 23, 2000

Answers

For the original increase, yes. I'm not too sure about any others if it was a graduated increase over several years, but I would guess that since they were approved before January 1st, 2000 that they are legal too.

The final say as to whether they are or aren't will most likely come this Fall when the Supreme Court makes its ruling.

-- Patrick (patrick1142@yahoo.com), February 24, 2000.