Baltimore City will likely be raising water and sewage bills by 4 percent next year. These increases not only affect City residents, but also customers in Howard, Anne Arundel, and Carroll Counties. Baltimore County expects to raise its rates by 7.5 percent.

Not paying your bill will cause some big problems. Customers of Baltimore City who are $250 delinquent on their accounts will have their water shut off. If the bill is not settled, you’ll be faced with a lien on your house, which can then be sold at a tax sale if the lien is not settled.

One resident risks losing her home in the tax sale because of a $173 unpaid water bill, plus an additional $300 or so in alley-paving fees that were assessed by the City. The woman, out on disability from a work injury, never requested that the alley be paved. All hope is not lost for Baltimore, as readers of the story came forward and offered to pay her bill.

Although the increase is certainly better than the City’s initial proposal for a 30 percent hike over the next 3 years, something’s got to give. The costs of basics like water, electricity, and gasoline are increasing exponentially, but our paychecks remain at a standstill. How does one prioritize necessities when there’s not enough money to go around?

Anyone who is either looking for someone to help, or looking to capitalize on someone’s misfortune, can visit www.bidbaltimore.com for the auction listings.

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