At the meetings that the rate increases were discussed, it was told to the people that the increases were 17.5 over 5 years. What no one said explicitly was that the increases were 17.5% A YEAR for 5 years. They played upon an electorate that does not understand compounding increases. That seemingly harmless 17.5% increase over 5 years suddenly becomes a 124% increase, a $50 bill becoming a $111.98 bill. When I talked to several on the commission, they told me I was crazy. Hmmm, seems I was right.

Second, Mr. Field gives two options in the article for dealing with the wastewater treatment problem (and I quote): "The city must buy the county’s Deltona North system, which is operating at half capacity; or the city must build a wastewater-treatment plant on the S.R. 415 corridor."

No Mr. Field, the city has another option - GET OUT OF THE WATER BUSINESS!! Government does not belong in business, PERIOD!

Also, your statement of "Deltona’s water rates are still lower than the state average" makes you sound like that ignorant commissioner Herzberg. If you wish to pay higher rates like the rest of Florida, MOVE. I prefer lower rates, especially when the money is going to the government. I will be looking forward to seeing the For Sale sign on your home soon.

It is good that you lost Mr. Field, I don't think Deltona could have survived another ignorant politician serving our community.