With or without voters, water projects are on

Assuring voters that approval of a $58 million bond referendum on Nov. 3 won't raise their tax rate, the Clear Lake City Water Authority says water and sewer rates will have to go up if the bond issue doesn't pass.
Gayle Yoder, president of the water authority, said there are projects that must be done and if the bond issue fails, a hike in water and sewer rates would be used to pay for revenue bonds, which do not require voter approval.
We don't want to scare people," Yoder said, "but this is the honest-to-God-truth."
Of the money sought from the bond issue, $51.7 million would be spent on rehabbing and upgrading existing facilities, said Gayle Yoder, president of the water authority.
Another $1.2 million would be used to comply with the state's new hurricane preparedness requirements, and $5.1 million would go for the purchase of property for storm water detention and flood control.
On the water authority's to do list:
A new and enlarged sanitary sewer line under Mud Lake
Enlargement of the main line in the Timber Cove subdivision to serve the eastern portion of the district
Sewer plant expansion.
Numerous improvements to lift stations and water and sewer lines as well as storm sewer rehabilitation.
This is very important because we will be doing those projects," Yoder said. We have to do them to keep our system upgraded and in good shape."
The water authority's last bond election was in 2004, when voters approved a $29.1 million referendum.