Back of the napkin calculations: 56,000 customers x $50 annual increase = $2.8 million in additional revenue.

next, AWWU has about 270 employees, let's say an average annual wages and benefits of $100,000 (an underestimation) = $27 million in wages and benefits.

Therefore, instead of raising rates, AWWU could accomplish the same thing with a 10% reduction in wages and benefits across the board.

Full listing of AWWU salaries can be seen here:

http://alaskapolicyforum.org/resources/municipality-of-anchorage/flowchart42/