New coalition forms in response to rising water rates in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- Montgomery County residents, business owners, and community leaders today announced the formation of a coalition, Restore Affordable Water (RAW), in response to rising water rates and mismanagement by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD).

Restore Affordable Water will demand truth, transparency, and accountability from the LSGCD.

“The LSGCD’s failure to properly manage water rates has negatively affected Montgomery County homes and businesses,” said RAW President Simon Sequeira. “Families shouldn’t be afraid of not being able to pay their water bills because of mismanagement from unaccountable bureaucrats.”

In recent years, mismanagement by the LSGCD has caused a nearly two-fold increase in water rates in Montgomery County. During the 85th Legislature, Sen. Brandon Creighton and Rep. Will Metcalf filed HB 1982 to hold appointed LSGCD bureaucrats accountable and give Montgomery County residents the ability to elect their own LSGCD representatives. In May 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 1982 into law, giving Montgomery County residents the ability to elect their own representatives to the LSGCD board.

“For too long, the LSGCD has operated without being held accountable by the voters,” said Bill O’Sullivan, RAW treasurer. “The lack of transparency and fiscal responsibility ends now. It’s time Montgomery County residents who pay the bill are represented by a board of their elected peers.”

Restore Affordable Water urges voters to join them on November 6, 2018, which will be the first opportunity for Montgomery County to elect its own LSGCD representatives.

More information about Restore Affordable Water can be found at RestoreAffordableWater.com.