Why is my water bill going up $16 a month if the rumor is correct.  What justifies this?

This is in addition to the recent increase and will start in Dec. 

It's going up because your city councilmen agreed to incur debt (GTUA) to pay for water/sewer lines and committed to a certain amount of water usage (NTMWD) based on expected growth of the city.  That growth has come to a grinding halt, so now the existing citizens have to make up the difference.

At least the economy is strong so we won't notice the hit, oh wait...

Man, that will teach people to keep their hands off their hose!

Ones surrounding the raising of taxes, prices and my favorite, 'fees.'

Which hose are we talking about?

And how was this approved w/o a vote?  What decisions does the council get to make all by themselves?

from City Charter

SECTION 3.06 Powers of the City Council
All powers of the City and the determination of all matters of policy are vested in the City
Council. Except where in conflict with and otherwise expressly provided by this Charter,
the City Council has all powers authorized to be exercised by the Constitution and laws of
the United States and the State of Texas as amended. Without limiting the broad
powers vested in the City Council — and only to provide more certainty with respect to
certain other powers — the City Council may also:
(1) appoint and remove the City Manager, Municipal Judge, City Attorney,
and City Secretary;
(2) establish administrative departments;
(3) adopt the City budget;
(4) collectively inquire into the conduct of any office, department or agency of
the City and make investigations as to municipal affairs;
(5) provide for a Planning & Zoning Commission and a Board of Adjustment
and other boards as deemed necessary, and appoint the members of all
such boards and commissions. (Such boards and commissions retain all
powers possessed before the adoption of this Charter and those
conferred and created by this Charter, by City ordinance or by other law);
(6) adopt and modify the official map of the City;
(7) adopt, modify and carry out plans in cooperation with the Planning &
Zoning Commission for the replanning, improvement and redevelopment
of specific areas of the City;
( adopt, modify and carry out plans in cooperation with the Planning &
Zoning Commission for the replanning, reconstruction or redevelopment of
any area or district which may have been destroyed in whole or part by
disaster;
(9) regulate, license and fix the charges or fares made by any person owning,
operating or controlling any vehicle of any character used for the carrying
of passengers for hire on the public streets and alleys of the City;
(10) provide for the establishment and designation of fire limits and prescribe
the kind and character of buildings or structures or improvements to be
erected; provide for the erection of fireproof buildings within certain limits;
and provide for the condemnation of dangerous structures of buildings or
dilapidated buildings or buildings calculated to increase the fire hazard,
and the manner of their removal or destruction;
(11) fix and regulate rates and charges of all utilities and public services; and
(12) adopt plats, unless the City Council votes to give this authority exclusively
to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

I am not happy about the increase either, but we did need the new sewer line.  I am betting you would all rather pay the extra as necessary for this upgrade than have the sewer system break and have poo backing up into your kitchen sink.

I know I would.  I pay more than $16 a month for tv, and if I have to cut that package back to keep the poo out of my sink than I am all for it.