Schools are closed in a Texas town after the city shut off their water amid a dispute over the bill.
The city of La Villa shut off water and sewer service to the La Villa district in December, shortly after students started their holiday break. The city had increased a water surcharge, and the district has refused to pay the higher rate.
The 625 students were supposed to return to classes last week, but instead found a message on the district’s website that schools would be closed until further notice.
In a letter to the Texas Education Agency in December, Mayor Hector Elizondo wrote that the rate hike was “absolutely necessary” to upgrade aging utility systems and meet state quality standards.
