City Of El Paso Being Sued, AGAIN, Over Unfair Charges

The city of El Paso is once again being sued over what has been labeled an "unfair tax" by a former El Paso and Texas state representative.

Former state rep. Joe Pickett was already in the process of suing the city of El Paso over a franchise fee charged by El Paso Water when he discovered a second questionable fee on El Paso water bills.

Back in August, Pickett won the first round when a district judge agreed with him and actually referred to the (first) fee as "unconstitutional."

According to a story posted by our news partner, KVIA, the city of El Paso created the "El Paso Water Franchise Fee" in 2014 and it has since put around $20 million into the city's wallet. Even then, ten years ago, the Public Service Board ... who oversee El Paso Water ... warned the city about the legality of these fees.

In the letter, the chair of the water utility called the fee an "unconstitutional tax," and added, "...imposing an arbitrary 'franchise fee' of $3.55 million is not only subject to constitutional challenge but additionally may violate city bond covenants." - KVIA

We're Paying EP Water For Damage Done BY EP Water?

In the lawsuit, Pickett alleged the city of El Paso was hiding tax increases in water bills, using a fee that purportedly is to pay for damages to streets caused by the city’s own sanitation trucks. - El Paso Matters

You'll find one of these charges on the side of the water bill that lists the fees for El Paso Water and the other under the fees for El Paso Environmental Services.