Bulova Proposes Merger of Water Systems
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
May 22, 2012
Sharon Bulova, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has proposed that the City of Falls Church merge its water system with the County’s.
Writing in response to recent comments by Vice Mayor Dave Snyder, Ms. Bulova states she believes such a merger would lower rates for residents of both jurisdictions. However, she adds that if the City were to sell to its system to the “highest bidder,” rates for all its customers very well may increase substantially, as an investor-owned utility would have to charge higher rates to recover not only its purchase cost, but also the profit margin and tax obligattions that governmental uhow to get your girlfriend back
Falls Church in the News
So our friends in Fairfax give us yet another reason for us to give them our water system for free. Thanks, guys.
I hope there is someone that can enlighten me about Fx….are they proposing a merger but we keep operating? In collaboration w/Fx? Merger and they control? Merge and we get some money?
A poster noted somewhere we would get a seat on the Fx Water Authority under one idea floated by Fx….I am totally confused.
Given that we are already paying some 60% more for our water compared to the county, this offer should be given serious consideration in my opinion. The devil, I am sure, is in the details, but selling to a private owner who will be stuck with the cost structure and small rate base that presumably has caused our rates to be so high, seems like not such a great solution.
We know that Fairfax has wanted our water system, and for free.
Like any bully they have dredged up yet another bogus “opinion” as to why Falls church can’t sell. Does she think the bidders are so STUPID as to pay for something they can’t use.
If Fairfax wants the system they can pay for it and Mr. Snyder can stand up for our rights and demand fair compensation so that Fairfax can get the benefit of supplying water to the growth in Tyson’s Corner.
Ms. Bulova and the FCT should know that it is the “Chief Counsel,” not “Chief Council,” whose opinion is at issue.
It would also be helpful if this opinion were provided in full. Of course, it’s just one attorney’s opinion and is not law.
Perhaps it is time to consider some bountry line adjustments with such a merger. Having our schools within our city limits and increasing our commercial areas might be an incentive. Bottom line, both parties need to sit at the table for some meaningful discussions….
Has the City retained outside counsel to review this situation and outline our options, in addition to relying on our own internal folks?
Mr. Rye the city has retained outside counsel on water related issues and continue to seek advice from them on courses of action that we can take. Barry when I first joined the council this was something that I was and still am a huge fan of being able to do. But for us to actually achieve this boundary adjustment the county must come to the table and discuss this with us and work out a true agreement and not say that we should just give them the system. To date they have not been willing to have these discussions with the city. I do hope that we can move forward on this but today the county has not come to the table with a true proposal that we can negotiate in good faith.
I suggest then that Council develop a proposal and present to FX to get them to the table……..
I love all of this “bully” talk…
Does the City of Falls Church feel no sense of guilt or shame for having stolen millions of dollars from Fairfax County residents over the past several years through inflated water rates? (no one can seriously dispute that the ill-gotten loot was regularly transferred from the water budget into the City of Falls Church’s general fund)…
I for one am very thankful that our elected officials in Fairfax County have finally ended this the thievery by saying to the City of Falls Church “NO MORE!”
I suspect that if the ledger were fully analyzed…it is the City of Falls Church who should be paying Fairfax County to assume control over the City’s water system! $44 million?!… To quote another bully (Michael Corleone) “My offer is this… Nothing.”
What I would really like to see is Fairfax County withdraw its offer to assume control of Falls Church City Water… The Little City can figure out how to deal with the resting $5 million budget shortfall… (and if you haven’t read this book before… Brace yourselves for a massive real estate tax hike.).
What’s that flapping sound?! Must be the chickens coming home to roost!
I love all of this “bully” talk…
Does the City of Falls Church feel no sense of guilt or shame for having stolen millions of dollars from Fairfax County residents over the past several years through inflated water rates? (no one can seriously dispute that the ill-gotten loot was regularly transferred from the water budget into the City of Falls Church’s general fund)…
I for one am very thankful that our elected officials in Fairfax County have finally ended this the thievery by saying to the City of Falls Church “NO MORE!”
I suspect that if the ledger were fully analyzed…it is the City of Falls Church who should be paying Fairfax County to assume control over the City’s water system! $44 million?!… To quote another bully (Michael Corleone) “My offer is this… Nothing.”
What I would really like to see is Fairfax County withdraw its offer to assume control of Falls Church City Water… The Little City can figure out how to deal with the resulting $5 million budget shortfall… (and if you haven’t read this book before… Brace yourselves for a massive real estate tax hike.).
What’s that flapping sound?! Must be the chickens coming home to roost!
One post is sufficient.
Now, now. TFC. The man is entitled to his opinion. Which, from his perspective, and perhaps ours if we were standing in his shoes, makes perfect sense.
Some of us were highly critical of the City’s lawsuit against Fairfax in federal court that started this whole dispute. Not only because it was dead wrong on the merits but also because it was plain stupid!
R. Duncan, I hope you have enjoyed our wonderful water, have we really done you wrong? How much for a good system, you don’t mind that FX water comes right out of the potomac do you?? Ask you leaders to sit down and get their head out of….. and actually discuss the possibilities……
R Duncan: If you are a Fairfax CITY resident, you are not a Falls Church water “gougee’. I live in Fairfax COUNTY and have Fairfax CITY water and I have higher rates than you.
Thank you for the reply, Mr. Webb. Given the City’s track record in its water-related legal dealings, and in light of the ruling just handed down by the Army’s general counsel, should the City perhaps re-evaluate the quality of the legal advice it is receiving?????
Lou, I know you have been around long enough to know that this “dispute” came to a head when the City decided in the late 1990s (1) to take a much larger return from the Water Fund (as specifically authorized by the Charter, later found unconstitutional), and (2) to “float” the leaden idea of charging a differential water rate to Fairfax customers.* While the 2006 decision to sue was questionable, it was only one of a longer series of juvenile and ill-advised actions that led to where we are today.
Speaking of gouging, as I have said time and again, Fairfax has lower rates because they sell water wholesale to Loudoun, Prince William and other localities at rates higher than their “retail” rates, so hundreds of thousands of people in surrounding areas are paying millions of dollars extra for their water so that FCWA customers can save maybe 25¢ per day. 2007 numbers clearly show the magnitude of the subsidy, but since the FCWA has not published their financial statements since then we do not know how large it is now.
* I wonder whether certain candidates for Council during the period between 1998 and 2004 thought this was a good idea? What was your position Lou? Be careful, the internet remembers.
Dan,
I don’t recall the issue coming up during the 2004 campaign. If you want to search the internet and find that it did come up and I took a position, feel free to enlighten me.
The City’s first mistake was letting the water service agreement with Fairfax lapse in the 1980’s. I wasn’t aware of that until later. I don’t think many people were. Then of course came the 2006 decision to sue Fairfax in federal court. As a federal water lawyer myself, I knew it was a loser as soon as I read the complaint and said so. But a half-way intelligent first-year law student could easily have reached the same conclusion after a little research. And apart from the legal considerations it was just ridiculous politically— if you tug on Superman’s cape you better be prepared for the consequences. So it was not just “questionable,” it was, to use your words, a “juvenile and ill-advised” action. The gunslingers on the City Council in 2006 bear full responsibility. If memory serves (no sure thing these days) I believe you were elected to the Council in 2006 but I don’t recall if the lawsuit issue came up while you were in office and, if so, whether you voted for it.
Barry…
The water is palatable, but I must say the 50% surcharge to fund FCC’s general fund leaves a gritty aftertaste…
You may want to keep an alka-seltzer handy to drop in your water on July 1 when FCC’s backdoor water tax on us Fairfax County residents comes to an end…
Mr. Duncan, your header says you live in Fairfax City. Fairfax City has its own water system and has decided to keep it. How are we “gougee” ing you?