Not only did an Albuquerque Water Utility official make an $9 million dollar accounting mistake, they have proposed a 5% rate increase AND this comes on the heels of Albuquerque residents doing what the Utility asked of us taxpayers, SAVE WATER! and WE DID! And for our reward they want to raise our rates! AND then comes the news they made a $9 million accounting mistake. The write up in the Albuquerque Journal states that Albuquerque Water Utility CFO Stan Allred says the mistake was unrelated to recent financial difficulties that forced the agency to cut spending and propose a 5 percent rate hike. Allred said the accounting mistake only affected the tables in the agency’s annual published budget report and that his internal accounting system reflected the accurate revenue projections. Already then! So once again I consider this a slap in the face to Albuquerque taxpayers, we saved water, I say we, because we live in Albuquerque and have worked hard to save water despite severe drought conditions. Water use in the metro is down 12 percent in 2013-14 compared with the same period a year ago. So, with that the Albuquerque Water Utility wants a 5% rate increase, what happens when the citizens of the metro jump up those savings to another 12%? And what about the Utility’s accounting? Who is watching over them? 
