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Council Member Restler questions additional tax on water bills
3:15:50
ยท
118 sec
Council Member Lincoln Restler engages in a discussion with representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Independent Budget Office regarding an additional tax imposed on water bills. Restler expresses concern about the justification for this tax increase and its impact on water bill rates.
- The additional tax represents 35-40% of the total water bill increase from the previous year.
- The Adams administration's justification for the tax, citing asylum seeker expenses, is questioned.
- Restler argues that the tax is unfair as it goes to the general fund rather than directly supporting water system resilience.
Lincoln Restler
3:15:50
Thank you so much.
3:15:51
I really appreciate you both being here today and your thoughtful testimony.
3:15:55
So just to be clear, the this this additional tax that is imposed, it represents 30 between 3540% of the total increase in the water bill increase this past year?
Rohit Aggarwala
3:16:19
Trying to do math in
Brian Cain
3:16:20
my head.
3:16:20
Yes.
3:16:21
Three three percentage points out of eight and a half percent.
3:16:23
I think that's about correct.
3:16:25
Yeah.
Lincoln Restler
3:16:25
Okay.
3:16:26
And you you're much more diplomatic than me, but it doesn't appear that there's any rhyme or reason for why additional payment has been imposed.
Brian Cain
3:16:37
Well there have been justifications when it's been imposed since the de Blasio administration paused it initially.
3:16:42
You know, they they cited COVID in twenty twenty twenty one and then they cited the rising cost of asylum seekers recently.
3:16:48
But neither of those relate directly to the city's water system.
Lincoln Restler
3:16:52
Yeah.
3:16:54
Well I really appreciate you highlighting this issue.
3:16:56
I think it's an egregious decision by the Adams administration and o and b and I think it's unfair.
3:17:01
And like I said before, if this was an additional assessment that went directly toward strengthening our resiliency, then we could have a serious conversation about the merit of such a proposal.
3:17:12
But this is just to to to provide resources for the general fund.
3:17:17
And there doesn't there has been no correlation between asylum speaker spending and the need for this revenue despite the asylum seeker expenses going significantly the the anticipated expenses for asylum seekers going significantly down.
3:17:30
Right?
3:17:31
Correct.
3:17:32
Yes.
3:17:32
That's what IBO's forecast for asylum seeker costs has shown over We appreciate you highlighting this issue.
3:17:38
We appreciate you being with us today, and I look forward to working together and partnering with you to hopefully try and address this.
3:17:44
My pleasure.
3:17:45
Thank you very much.
3:17:46
Thank you so much.
3:17:47
Great.
3:17:48
Wonderful.