OAKLAND, TN-- People in Oakland will soon start seeing double, at least where their sewage bills are concerned.
The city, just of east of Memphis in Fayette County, is raising its sanitation fee from $8 to $16 a month.
A letter from the Mayor blames the increase on a dip in sales tax revenue, but the letter also mentions something else- the high cost of the city's legal bills. Referring to a lawsuit over the last mayoral election, Mayor Bill Mullins writes "the election challenge has cost $88,284.11.”
“It'll probably go even higher than that when it's all said and done” says Oakland Alderman Chuck Wombough.
Wombough says there's a question over whether the 2008 election was tainted, and the case is still not resolved.
“The court found enough votes apparently that were considered illegal votes. Enough to go forward with the case” says Wombough.
As the battle plays itself out in court, taxpayers are stuck having to pay the bill.
“To have to pay for the election challenge? Yes, I do think that's unfair” says resident Nancy Cook.
Residents like Cook are mad about the sanitation fee increase.
“They do pick it up twice a week which I appreciate that but I'm not sure that's worth 16 dollars.”
Other residents, like Jim Spain, say they don't see another way around the fee hike… or the cost of Oakland's legal bills.
“You never like to see increases that's for dagum sure, but this city has grown so much in that last 5 years. The city of Memphis - it's no different that what they're encountering at the present time with their lawsuits and they're in the millions” says Spain, with a laugh.
Residents will start seeing the increase in their December bills. Oakland leaders say it's been more than ten years since the city last raised its sewer fee rates.
