By Cailean Cooke

Town Crier Editorial Intern

Responding to an outcry from the Purissima Hills Water District about raising their monthly rent from $500 to $3,500, the Los Altos Hills City Council has proposed to charge $2,000 per month in return for three district provided Emergency Communication Stations.

Though the new cost is a $1,500 reduction from the rental fee proposed in June, it is still a 300 percent increase, and many water district members are not satisfied.

“The principle is that same area public service entities should not be charging each other rents when such costs are paid by the same taxpayers,” Maurice Johnson, longtime water district board director, wrote in a letter to the Town Crier.

Johnson said it is unjust for the district to earn $6,000 for the city from the three antenna sites it rents to commercial companies and to pay an additional $2,000 in monthly rent. Furthermore, taxpayers already will have to finance the $300,000 new district building. Climbing water rates will also tap their wallets.