As a large crowd of angry residents looked on Monday night, the East Point City Council overrode Mayor Earnestine Pittman’s veto of the 2012 budget and passed higher utility rates for the city.
The meeting drew the largest public turnout in over a year and some residents were left outside the building after the fire department declared capacity. Residents also packed the lobby downstairs and an adjacent room next to the council chambers. But those who made it inside had sharp words for the five council members who overrode the veto.
“People are broke and they don’t have money for higher utility bills. Get out of my pocket,” said Greg Fann.
Water rates are set to rise at least $28 a month, while residents will see a flat $7 hike in electric rates.
Many of the residents’ concerns focused on elderly residents who live on a fixed income.
“We do need to try and find a way to give senior citizens a discount,” Councilman Marcel Reed said.
During a comments period, the council members explained their votes.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody. I wished we could have had more options to look at, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing for the city,” Councilman Steve Bennett said.
Councilman Sharonda Hubbard objected to how political the vote had become, and said the budget will help move the city forward, providing more safety with the addition of six new police officers.
Earlier in the day, the East Point Citizens Defense for Change held a news conference to decry the increase in utility bills. One of the speakers, state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, blasted the five council members who overrode the mayoral veto and said residents were fed up with their tactics. The group proposed eliminating 100 unfilled positions in the budget that could save the city $10 million.
The new rates started July 1.
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