$75,000,000 DEBT

SEND A MESSAGE TO CITY GOVERNMENT

JUST SAY “NOT SO FAST”

This petition will allow the residents to decide whether this debt is justified by referring the question to the voters in November.

  • On March 5, the City Council authorized the issuance of $75,000,000 of water revenue bonds. [ref. 1]
  • The total cost of this proposed debt at 4.77% interest for 35 years would be $154,386,164.07.
  • The City Council has neither questioned nor justified the need for this particular project at this expense.
  • Many people believe that this proposed new treatment plant is NOT the best approach to meet our water needs.
  • The City Council did not explore viable alternatives to this project before approving this expenditure.
  • The estimated cost for this project was $36,000,000 less than two years ago. It has almost doubled.
  • The City Council MUST perform due diligence when authorizing a new project or a new expenditure.
  • The City Council should NEVER obligate the residents of the city for a sizable new debt without the consent of the residents.  
  • The last substantive public input for this project was in 2019.
  • SIX 10% increases to water rates over the next six years have been proposed to help finance these bonds.  Those increases will raise rates by 77% over the current rates.  [ref. 2] Those rate increases do not account for other vital infrastructure needs, for instance maintenance of the distribution system.
  • Ashland water rates are currently already among the highest in the state. [ref. 2]
  • This petition, if successful, will simply place the question for approval or rejection by the voters on the November ballot.  In the meantime, the voters will have plenty of time to evaluate the proposal, its merits, and its ramifications.

YOU CAN NO LONGER SIGN THE PETITION

The petition drive was a tremendous success

Thanks to every one of the more than 1160 residents who signed the petition!!

www.ashlandwater.info

If you would like to contribute to the campaign opposing the measure in November, send your check to:

Refer $75M Debt to the Voters
1467 Siskiyou Blvd. # 77
Ashland, OR 97520

If you have questions or need help, email ashland.petition@gmail.com

  1. Resolution 2024-05, authorizing the bond issue, 3/5/24:
    https://tinyurl.com/44dchex6    OR https://www.ashland.or.us/SIB/files/City%20Council/03_05_24_Authorizing_Resolution_Water_Bonds_CC_FINAL.pdf    
  2. Water rates presentation to Council, 12/4/23:  https://tinyurl.com/yc8rrdc7   OR https://www.ashland.or.us/SIB/files/City%20Council/12_4_23_CC_Water_and_Enterprise_System_Utility_Rates_and_Affordibiliity_FINAL.pdf
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