Northeast Queens Leaders Blast Proposed Water Rate Hike

State and city elected officials representing northeast Queens came out against a proposal to raise water rates by 7.5 percent.

The New York City Water Board will hold a hearing today at 6 p.m. at P.S. 499 in Flushing on the planned increase.

The rate hike would go into effect on July 1.

Assemblyman David Weprin, D-Little Neck, has introduced legislation in Albany that would prohibit the city from raising rates by more than 5 percent annually.

“Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg has said he’s balanced the budget without raising taxes, but when the city increases people’s property assessment values and water rates, he’s essentially raising taxes,” said Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside, who sponsored Weprin’s bill. “It’s a back-door tax. People are spending more money than they did last year.”

Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, said 2012 would be the 15th consecutive year of water rate increases. An average Queens family would pay an additional $61 in water fees under this year’s 7.5 percent increase, he said.

“High water bills hit middle class families and homeowners in the forms of higher rents and maintenance fees,” the councilman said. “They’re another hit to the already-vulnerable pocketbooks of Queens families, who are struggling to make ends meet as it is.”

Weprin’s bill is currently under consideration by the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.

Since last fall, northeast Queens residents and community leaders have complained about higher water bills — not just through higher rates, but by what they called overcharging due to a recent switchover from traditional to electronic usage meters.

The Water Board will hold public hearings in all five boroughs on Tuesday.

P.S. 499 is located at 148-20 Reeves Ave. in Flushing. For more information on the hearing, visit the The Water Board’s website or call Community Board 11 at 718-225-1054.