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February 3, 2008

LETTERS: Feb. 3, 2008

Reducing IUS' fees is mistake



Indiana University Southeast is considered an institution of higher learning and supposed to set an example by instilling in its students a sense of fairness and commitment to its local community.

As both a citizen of New Albany and an alumnus of the university, it appalls me that university officials are seeking to not pay their fair share of sewer tap fees for the new lodge-style dorms.

The university’s excuse that sewer tap fees were not calculated in their budget for this capital project is not a reason to reduce the full tap fees that all other sewer customers pay without protest. Reducing fees for IUS would open a Pandora’s box and other customers, both new and existing, would seek preferential treatment as well. Allowing IUS a reduced tap fee amounts to a form of corporate welfare and more importantly sends a message to its students and local citizens that the university does not value the community in which it resides.

Has IUS contributed to the city of New Albany? Absolutely, that is part of its mission as an educational institution and as stated in its mission statement, but that does not entitle it to reduced sewer utility fees. If the new sewer board, which the city council reorganized eliminating council representation and therefore citizen oversight of the sewer utility, allows the university a tap fee that is less than its full share, then IUS should be renamed, “IOUS” - I owe you sewer fees.

— Tim Deatrick, New Albany

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