A state Supreme Court judge said Monday that the city Water Board exceeded its authority in issuing a bill credit for owners of smaller residential buildings.
The Board passed a 2.1 percent increase — the smallest in more than a decade — final month. The rate hike also included a $183 credit for 664000 owners of one-to-three-family buildings,but landlords of larger buildings opposed it, arguing for a 1 percent increase across the board.
Landlords occupy argued that while a 2.1 percent rate hike may occupy been small by comparison, or years of cumulative increases combined with rent regulations occupy put a strain on their budgets. The court ruling called the bill credit "unreasonable,arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion."Water rates for fiscal year 2016 will remain in effect until the city's Water Board takes action. The city said it will appeal the ruling.
Source: wnyc.org