Sewer And Water Overcharge

According to the Alaska Superior Court, Begich and the Assembly have overcharged customers of the city-owned waste and sewer utility by $17 million since 2004. This means the average single-family homeowner in Anchorage overpaid by about $250. ¹

• In a July 18, 2007, editorial the Anchorage Daily News said, "Mayor Mark Begich and the Assembly have overcharged customers of the city-owned water and sewer utility by $17 million since 2004, according to the state utilities commission and a Superior Court judge. If upheld on appeal, the ruling will net utility customers a sizeable refund. The average single-family homeowner has overpaid by roughly $250 and pays another $5 a month until the case is resolved." ²
   
• The editorial also said, "Money was tight in 2003. There was no chance voters would raise the city's property tax cap for government operations. Instead, Mayor Begich and the Assembly tripled the payments AWWU [Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility] makes for city services like fire and police. Known as Municipality Utilities Service Assessments, or MUSA, the payments are similar to the property taxes imposed on all private businesses." ³

¹ Kyle Hopkins, "Court Says Water Company's 2004 Rate Hike Was 'Unjust'; AWWU Order To Pay Back Millions," Anchorage Daily News, July 10, 2007

² Editorial, "Opinion," Anchorage Daily News, July 18, 2007

³ Editorial, "Opinion," Anchorage Daily News, July 18, 2007