Exposing the Deception: A call for accountability on water and sewer rate hikes

By Kwasi Fraser, former Purcellville Mayor

Let me be perfectly clear: the Town’s recent bill insert attempting to justify the current and future double-digit water and sewer rate hikes by blaming prior Town Councils is not just disingenuous—it’s downright deceptive. This politically motivated propaganda insults the intelligence of every resident who has faithfully paid their share under previous administrations, which took a measured and responsible approach to our community’s needs.

The majority of Town Council along with the Town Manager claim previous councils didn’t raise rates? The record says otherwise. They did increase rates, as advised, in modest and manageable increments—ensuring that the town’s financial obligations were met while respecting the people’s ability to afford essential services.

Advisors made it clear on the record, as far back as 2020, that we should expect modest 3% to 5% increases until the debt was paid off. This was even before we received $10.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, most of which wisely went towards capital improvements. The numbers don’t lie.

At those reasonable increases, water revenue would have been four times the annual debt payments, and sewer revenue nearly two-and-a-half times the payments. Yet here they are, refusing to mention these inconvenient facts. Why? Because it doesn’t fit the carefully crafted narrative of out-of-control operational costs. It doesn’t align with their need to deflect blame for the spiraling expenses under Mayor Milan’s administration.

The truth is, this isn’t a revenue problem—it’s an expense problem. While they are busy pointing fingers at past leadership, it’s this current administration that’s driving up operational costs. They conveniently omit the over $1 million in cost recovery and chargebacks being siphoned from the water and sewer fund into the general fund. And now, they expect the people—senior citizens on fixed incomes, families already struggling—to bear the burden of your fiscal mismanagement.

Let’s talk about those senior citizens. Many are already paying $150 a month for water and sewer, $300 for propane, and $500 for groceries. And now, thanks to your reckless appetite for revenue to cover skyrocketing operational expenses, you’re asking them to dig even deeper, to shoulder the weight of an expense crisis you created. The current majority on Town Council’s alarmist claims of impending bankruptcy if these double-digit hikes don’t pass, is nothing but fear-mongering.

What enterprise on the brink of a supposed collapse raises prices instead of cutting costs? Water usage is dropping every year in response to rate hikes—that’s the people telling you that these increases are unsustainable.

Instead of keeping rates where they should be, the majority Town Council blame the past with false information, hoping people won’t notice the obvious: this majority council wants to go back to growing the town.

So, let’s set the record straight about the actions of past administrations:

2015-2016: 5% Sewer, 0% Water (No opposition from Management in Budget Book as claimed by team Metropolis)

2016-2017: 5% Sewer, 3% Water (Retired $2.4 M in water debt early, saving on future interest. No opposition from Management in Budget Book as claimed by team Metropolis.  Cash flow savings from debt restructuring praised by Management and Advisors)

2017-2018: 0% Sewer, 0% Water (Reduced chargebacks which are operational expenses to the general fund which enabled us not to raise rates that year)

2018-2019: 2% Sewer, 2% Water (No opposition from Management in Budget Book)

2019-2020: 3% Sewer, 3% Water (No opposition from Management in Budget Book)

2020-2021: 0% Sewer, 0% Water (COVID year. No opposition from Management in Budget Book.  Cash flow savings from debt restructuring praised by Management and Advisors. Town received $10.5 Million in ARPA funds with majority being allocated to Capital Improvement Program budget)

2021-2022: 5% Sewer, 3% Water (In public meeting Advisors stated that single digit increase can be expected from now until debt is paid off.  Council noted that debt is known but increasing operational costs are unknown and needs to be managed.  $900,000 nutrient credit bank revenue.)

2022-2023: 5% Sewer, 3% Water (No opposition from Management in Budget Book)

These increases, supported by our consultants, were sustainable and fair. They ensured that revenue exceeded debt payments without placing an undue burden on the people. The real issue here is Milan and his majority’s failure to control costs, and their blatant attempt to mislead this community is not only dishonest—it’s an insult.

The people deserve better. They deserve transparency, not manipulation. They deserve leadership, not excuses. And they deserve a government that can control its own spending before demanding more from those who have little left to give.

They deserve truth, not political inserts funded by the town taxpayers to support their push for growth. As we know growth does not pay for itself, and it will change our small town completely.