Unpopular but necessary

Perhaps as a nod to those who complained that a sales tax increase was rammed down the peoples’ throats, Dothan officials have planned two public hearings on an imminent increase in sewer rates.

Residents will have an opportunity to offer their opinions of the rate hike at 9 a.m. Aug. 11 in the commission chambers and at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Dothan Opera House.

Opportunities for members of the public to participate in the creation of policy and spending are never a waste of time. In this case, we agree with Dothan Mayor Pat Thomas, who neither hemmed nor hawed on this matter: “Public input will not change what must be done.”

He’s right about that. Dothan is staring down the barrel of a federal lawsuit to make improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment infrastructure. The cost — at the moment — is estimated at about $45 million. It may cost considerably more before the project is complete.

The amount of the rate hike has not been determined, and will likely depend on updated cost projections.

Certainly this must be done, and quickly. However, the commission’s long-range planning will help prevent such costly surprises in the future, and the approval of additional tax revenue will leave the city in a better position to stay ahead of our communities civic needs.

Would more public input have swayed that decision? Perhaps. But the situation was similar; what needed to have been done needed to be done.

Credit Thomas with that decision, along with the courageous votes of four commissioners, including Paul Lee and Taylor Barbaree.