10.30.09

On March 6th 2009, Judge Horne ruled in our favor, that the water/sewer rates we've been paying (and fighting) since January 1, 2006 are unfair and illegal. The Leesburg Town Council has appealed that decision to the Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond, but in the meanwhile, the Town Council has reduced our water rates effective September 1, 2009. That reduction means that your next water bill, instead of showing a 100% differential from in-town rates will only be 33% higher, while sewer surcharges drop from 100% to 56%. The Town rates have been increased so the 33% increase of their new rate plus the sewer rates will make our bills about half of what they were.

In the meantime, the Virginia Supreme Court will look at the appeal and decide if they will hear the case or not. We should be informed of their decision in about three weeks. If the court decides NOT to hear the case, the September rate will continue.

If Virginia Supreme Court does want to review the decision, then sometime next fall they will review the case to determine if the 100% surcharge placed on out-of-towners was fair or not. At that same time, if the rates are determined to be unfair, the Virginia Supreme Court will determine whether we have a right to be repaid for the overpayments. That's a year away, so in the meantime we would continue with the new September rates set by the Town.

We'll keep you informed as this saga unfolds. In the meanwhile enjoy the lower rates; in a few quarters we'll have recouped what we paid in legal fees. Fighting City Hall is tough.

The Fair Water Rate Committee
More info at www.fairwaterrates.com