Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter regarding City Council approval of rates and charges fixed by the Water Department for supplying water and sewage disposal services, and providing for the submission of the amendments to the electors of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS,

Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (53 P.S. §13106), an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the Council of the City of Philadelphia adopted with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected members; now, therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That the following amendment to Article V of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is hereby proposed and shall be submitted to the electors of the City on an election date designated by ordinance:

ARTICLE V

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH POWERS AND DUTIES

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CHAPTER 8 WATER DEPARTMENT

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§5-801. Rates and Charges.

In accordance with such standards as the Council may from time to time ordain, the Water Department shall fix and regulate rates and charges for supplying water, including charges to be made in connection with water meters, and for supplying sewage disposal services.

No change in such rate shall be effective unless approved by Council.

The standards pursuant to which rates and charges shall be fixed by the Department shall be such as to yield to the City at least an amount equal to operating expenses and interest and sinking fund charges on any debt incurred or about to be incurred for water supply, sewage and sewage disposal purposes. In computing operating expenses, there shall be included proportionate charges for all services performed for the Department by all officers, departments, boards or commissions of the City.

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