Miller Maxfield, the PR Agency that Boulder Creek residents ultimately pay for (through our water bill), has just issued a “strategically-timed Friday afternoon press release.” (this is what government entities do when they don’t want people to notice news.. it’s called the “Friday News Dump” )
The SLV Water District is holding a special board meeting next Thurs, 7/13 to consider a rate restructuring, which would result in increase for most customers and a decrease for some.
If the Board of Directors chooses to pursue the proposed rate restructuring, the District would follow California’s voter-mandated Proposition 218 process. The Prop 218 process requires the District to notify ratepayers of the proposed increase, provide a 45-day period during which ratepayers can submit a letter of protest and hold a public hearing at the end of the 45-day period, at which time a decision would be made by the Board regarding the proposed rate restructuring.
Full Press Release from our PR Agency hired by the SLV Water District is below….
SLV WATER DISTRICT TO CONSIDER RATE RESTRUCTURING TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND BUILD EMERGENCY RESERVES AT SPECIAL BOARD MEETING 7/13 @ 6PM
PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT; MEETING TO BE HELD AT HIGHLANDS PARK SENIOR CENTER IN BEN LOMOND
JULY 7, 2017 — BOULDER CREEK, CA — The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) today announced it will hold a special board meeting to receive public input and consider whether to move forward with a proposed rate restructuring. The restructured rates would simplify existing rate tiers and produce additional revenue to be invested in ongoing capital improvement projects throughout the District service area as well bolster as the District’s emergency reserve funds.
The special board meeting will take place Thursday, July 13 at 6:00p.m. at Highlands Park Senior Center, 8500 Hwy 9 in Ben Lomond.
The District’s capital improvement projects have been prioritized through a public process. The projects focus on repairs and improvements to the District’s aging infrastructure, such as fire protection capacity, leaking tanks and pumps and water mains prone to failure. Most customers would see an increase in their rates, though some customers who use very little water would see a decrease in their rates.
“Based on current rates, we have enough yearly revenue to adequately cover operational expenses, but not enough to cover ongoing capital improvement costs or grow rainy day reserves,” said Brian Lee, SLVWD District Manager. “To help us understand where we stand, what our needs are and how we can prepare for the future, the District has engaged with the community and key experts to complete three important studies over the past year including a cost of service study, a prioritization of capital improvement projects and a comprehensive rate study. The Board now has an opportunity to discuss whether or not to ask our ratepayers to consider a rate restructuring that would produce ongoing funding for capital improvement projects.”
If the Board of Directors chooses to pursue the proposed rate restructuring, the District would follow California’s voter-mandated Proposition 218 process. The Prop 218 process requires the District to notify ratepayers of the proposed increase, provide a 45-day period during which ratepayers can submit a letter of protest and hold a public hearing at the end of the 45-day period, at which time a decision would be made by the Board regarding the proposed rate restructuring.
Boulder Creek Insider 