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e <br />Mr. Murphy stated that his main concern is the 159% in- <br />crease. He still doesn't know where they get that figure because <br />if you divide $6.90 into $17.86, you get 258%, and if you divide <br />the original $1.00 base facility charge, you get 846%, which is <br />another unrealistic figure. <br />Attorney Shandloff explained that you have to subtract what <br />the current rate is from what the new rate would be and then <br />divide that by the current rate in order to get your rate of <br />increase, and Commissioner Wodtke agreed that it is similar to <br />markup on cost or markup on retail. <br />Debate continued re mark up, percentages, etc., and Chairman <br />Scurlock noted that percentages can be computed in a lot of <br />different ways, which is why we had staff prepare a chart setting <br />out just what the users will be paying for specific gallonages. <br />Attorney Vitunac asked Mr. Murphy if he had any problem with <br />his sewer service, and he did not complain of any. <br />Daniel Fourmont, 900 5th Ave., SE, acknowledged that he had <br />been sworn in. He emphasized that the proposed increase would be <br />the third increase in seven years. Mr. Fourmont stated that in <br />1979 they were paying $3.71 for a typical usage of 5,000 gallons; <br />in 1980 this went up to $6-.00, an increase of 62%; and in 1984, <br />it increased to $6.94, another 15%. The proposed increase from <br />$6.90 to $17.86 would be 159% and from the original charge of <br />$3.71, that is an increase of 381%. <br />Attorney Vitunac advised that neither the number of <br />increases given in the past nor the percentages from some former <br />rate are legally relevant, and it therefore, is a waste of time <br />dealing with percentages based on some former figure. <br />Chairman Scurlock wished the public to be aware that the <br />County Commission has chosen to regulate the utilities in our <br />county rather than let the Public Service Commission do it. We <br />still have certain laws we must abide by, however, and that is <br />why we are having this very formal procedure with a court <br />reporter, sworn in testimony, etc. <br />17 <br />MAR 19 1986 BOOK �� r;�UE 969 <br />