City Workers Get Free (Water) Ride

Hundreds of city workers collectively owe more than $700,000 in delinquent water bills, and yet the city did not shut off their water, reports KYW’s Mike Dunn.

There are 723 current city employees that are delinquent in paying their water bills, collectively owing the city more than $700,000, according to Philadelphia Controller Alan Burkovitz.

All this, while the city closes libraries; needs private-citizen donations to open city pools; eliminates much of its snow-removal funds; and threatens to cancel traditions like the Manayunk Bike Race and the Mummer’s Day Parade.

In one case a city employee owes $24,000, a bill that would take years to accrue, says Burkovitz.

It’s obvious that the Water Revenue Department is failing to shut off service for these city workers, since the policy for regular city residents is strict. If a person owes more than $75 for more than three months his or her water is shut off. Under this policy it would be impossible to rack up a $24,000 water bill.

Some of the workers have made payment arrangements and others have had their water shut off recently, Mayor Nutter’s spokesman told KYW. Docking the workers’ pay is not a legal option.

Burkovitz is asking the Water Department to treat city workers with the same policy they treat the rest of the city residents.

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Thank you for being an honest government official, Mr. Burkovitz. At least someone is not drinking the free 56-pharmaceutical-drug-tainted “Kool-Aid.”

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