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Association of California Water Agencies
Preamble
"Water agencies have an important mission: to provide reliable, high quality water supplies to their customers at the lowest practicable cost. Water agencies need the support of the communities they serve in order to be effective. All water agency officials should be dedicated to the highest ideals of integrity and accountability to earn their continued trust, confidence and support of the public they serve." I wish to restate the last part of that sentence...earn their continued trust, confidence and support of the public they serve.
The Hi-Desert Water District is owned by you, the public....the rate payer. Your elected Board of Directors were voted in to serve the public.
Make this year the start of your personal dedication and commitment to learn about the Sewer Project and ban on septic tanks in Yucca Valley.
Study each Director serving you on the Hi-Desert Water District and look closely at their voting record, ask questions and take notes.
I urge you to attend the Water Board Meetings. Talk to your friends and neighbors at the homeowner association meetings and encourage them to come to the Hi-Desert Water District meetings.
The State of California is still in a severe drought and this may be our new way of life in Southern California in the High Desert. One way to conserve water is to increase the rates to the consumers to encourage conservation. This has brought lower water sales and YOUR Board of Directors have approved another rate increase to bring in more income!
During the rate study presentation by CFO Frank Luckino on April 1, 2009, the HDWD Board of Directors voted to increase your water rates, EXCEPT, for a few high volume accounts receiving a negotiated 10% increase instead of the required 40% increase to bring their rates to the same level as the regular customers.
These groups are the Town of Yucca Valley, Basin Wide Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Tri-Valley Little League and Joshua Springs Calvary Chapel.
According to Proposition 218, all rate payers must pay the rate for the same water. Why are the ratepayers subsidizing these special interest groups?
This is unfair and there have been lawsuits in other Districts bringing justice for the ratepayers for Prop 218 violations.
Using this same Prop 218 reasoning, the Board in April 2009 voted to eliminate the low income program which gave a little help to our elderly and senior citizens on fixed incomes. It was a simple flat discount of $6.50 per month and they paid the same rate as the other ratepayers for their own water usage.
This calculating move brought in an additional $50,000 a year to the general budget without helping those in need. This does not seem right to me. In my opinion, this is not the act of a civilized society to neglect the poor and elderly.
In July 2011, HDWD CFO Frank Luckino, now promoted to Assistant General Manager, increased the water rates again while presenting a deficit budget that included a raise and cost of living increase for himself and Staff. This rate impacted the lowest tier rate with an increase of 11.8%.
I have been out in our community for several years working with Seniors and meeting many citizens struggling to survive without any cost of living increases.
I urge you to become involved.
Please check back with this website for future updates.
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