PETER PADILLA: City wastes money

On Sept. 25, the whole city received a 30-page booklet titled "Notice of Proposed Water Rate Changes." I assume that the reason for the rate changes is that the city water-utility fund is running out of money.

In addition to the massive cost of mailing out a booklet (I received two at home and one at work), the city is asking its citizens to bear the cost of installing water meters for about $300 each.

I understand the need for conservation and progress, but the city doesn't seem to understand the value of the tax money it collects.

What people do not understand is the city raided the water-utility fund to buy the land necessary to construct the "road to nowhere." Now if you ask city staff why, they say access to the new water well was needed. However, every other well in Merced has been situated next to an existing road or the city built a small access road.

Now the city is telling us it does not have enough money. So its answer is to raise our rates. When it has replenished this pool of money, will it find another way to spend it?

PETER PADILLA

Merced