Much of the budget problem is related to the fact that property taxes are kept very low. In the 70s Prop 13 capped property tax increases at, I believe 1% annually. Basically much lower than the rate of inflation. They are only reassessed when property is sold and can then increase to the current property value. This led to a very real real estate market that is biased towards not moving and rather just improving the property. As a result you have million dollar homes with $1000 annual property tax. My moms house is worth around half a million and the property tax is around $400.

Many sewer bills do vary in amount, proportional to your water consumption. (Because that water goes down the sewer, mostly, unless you water your lawn a lot.)

My water bills are based on usage, and are about $60 quarterly. I think sewage is part of our property taxes. Hfx just spent hundreds of millions on a a sewage treatment system that promptly flooded and broke.

Mother conjures an image of a female person.

To me, mother conjures an image of a female person with offspring (biological or no).

ita, speaking of mothers, YOUR MOM'S BIRTHDAY IS SUNDAY (which is also Father's Day).

Someone posted a good article about Prop 13 on Facebook; let me see if I can find it.

Here it is: [link]

I am increasingly glad that I've never paid a water or sewer bill. They have always been included in my rent.

My water bill is about $30/month. I'd be shocked if I got a near-$100 water bill, even in the summer.

Amusingly, my water/sewer bill comes bundled with my trash bill. It's about $50 bimonthly for all 3.

WEEPS. Our water/sewer/trash/electric all come together and is over $150/month.

YOUR MOM'S BIRTHDAY IS SUNDAY (which is also Father's Day).

You know, I will pout if you don't mention it, so thanks for the heads up.

My poor sister is freaking out with what to do for the 'rents on the dual day. She bought them tickets to a benefit, and they decided not to go. Which...she thinks means she has to get them something else, but the rest of us think the donation to charity in their name is good enough. Plus dinner.

Me? Ecards and a phone call. Sucks to not be me.

My mom just called me in the middle of class (granted we aren't doing anything as I had to turn grades in two weeks ago) to ask if I wanted anythign from Trader Joes. Seriously.

My electric and gas bill is based on the amount of electricity and gas I use, so it's irritating that nearly all of my water bill is flat fees that have nothing to do with how much water I use.

That's pretty much how my gas bill looks too - the fixed costs and fees far outweigh the actual consumption.