Public Citizen reports on Emmaus, Pennsylvania

On July 5, 2005, the Emmaus borough council voted to authorize its Water Committee to work with a consultant to draft an agreement of sale for the town's water and wastewater system. It has been proposed by some members of council that the money from the sale could go into lowering taxes. This would essentially be using the public assets as a high-interest credit card. In Emmaus, water rates are currently at $1.29 for 1000 gallons, compared to $8 per 1000 gallons in Pennsylvania communities under private management. While local residents are not opposed to reasonable increases, they came out strongly against the council’s decision.
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