Utility sale shouldn't be taken lightly

I was contacted by a number of people in the borough of Sussex on several issues, involving the sewer and water System in the borough. Today, I want to discuss the idea of public vs. private utilities. Sussex is considering a number of other issues, including fair and reasonable rates, infrastructure, which includes the infiltration, and inflow of its system or simply the I and I, as noted in several reports on the town’s current and future needs.

There also is the matter of gravity flow from Lake Rutherford for water, proper metering, and, finally, the flow of wastewater and other particulates to the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority, which will be a topic of another letter. The town has great needs to improve business in and around Route 23, sewer costs, and water costs are indeed a serious issue for the viability of the town.

One need that I would immediately address is the need for representation on the SCMUA board, as Sussex has no representation on the Board of Commissioners. That would be an issue that I would tackle immediately, if elected as freeholder, as that is indeed taxation without representation, which may be problematic, and touches the issue of fairness.

Now, the real substance of this letter is that the town is considering a private company over its current municipal system. Before considering the private company consider the following:

1. Companies often tout the idea that the private sector is more efficient in utilities, and that they can upgrade infrastructure and systems at a lower cost. That is a myth, and that is a reason that towns that have bought that notion have gone back to remunicipalisation. Don’t buy that myth!

2. It is true that municipalities get an infusion of cash to make the deal to privatize, large utilities recover that amount, along with profits, through rate hikes, and, yes, service cuts. Your Lake Rutherford provides gravity feed for pure water. Improvements may be needed, but it is typically lower with a public entity. Remember water will be more valuable than oil throughout the world. Preserve that lake’s purity, and in times of drought — who makes the decision on the water?

3. Our towns are cash starved, and they see the promise in the moves to public utilities, but in many cases there is a degradation of the service and the environment. An analysis of 20 states shows that private utilities charge as much as 80 percent more for your water, and 100 percent more for sewer projects.

4. Make the right decision, as North Brunswick in New Jersey can tell you of their problems, and Lee County in Florida, spent years and millions of dollars cleaning up the mess of corporate neglect. I know the company that is seeking the bid, and my family has used it for, but your borough is indeed cash starved, and Sussex needs economic development along the Route 23 corridor

5. Sussex has a median age of 37.69 years. The town has 877 households in its area with approximately 292 of those households, having children. Its median income is $44,923, and it is in a county that has at least 71 percent of its workforce commuting great distances. Some seniors in the above-age cohorts have heard that $9,000 sewer and water bills are coming. Let us hope not.

Make your decisions carefully.
Bill Weightman

Hardyston