![]() “Our focus is how that 45% increase will be passed along to us.” CWA will pass through all of the 45% increase to its districts “and then some,” said Schuppert. San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) buys this water at a wholesale, flat rate and distributes it to its two dozen water districts, Helix being one. ![]() The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is imposing two rate increases, the first 19.7% on September 2009, the second 21.5% by January 2011, for a total compounded 45% increase. After public outcry and efforts by the two representatives, the board revised the rate structure in its May 6 meeting, delineating the changes on its website, “Reductions to Water Rate Proposal.” Schuppert summarized the new Proposed Pricing (see table below, which GMIA produced based on HWD’s Prop 218 notice) and discussed what he says is an improved but still punitive pricing structure. Richard Smith, John Linden, and Charles Muse provided the majority to pass the rate-increase proposals, as initially outlined in the district’s Water Rate Study (pdf 694 kb) in February. (See map of Helix Water District divisions.) The two said they have been fighting for local residents’ concerns and rights but have been consistently outvoted by the other three members of the Board. Two HWD board members attended the forum, Kathleen Hedberg and De Ana Verbeke. Letters must be signed and contain the address of your property. ![]() Letters must be sent via US Postal Service to the Clerk of the Board at the address above, and received before the hearing.“Keep in mind it doesn’t end on the 27th.” Schuppert emphasized the importance of writing letters and also attending the May 27 meeting, the last opportunity for public input on this first rate increase, not to mention a controversial rate structure that will determine future increases. “We really need to send a message to let them know we’re not going to just take it. If the water board votes for the price increase next Wednesday, on May 27, it would take 31,000 (50% of HWD’s existing customers) protest letters to legally overturn the ruling. But we don’t deserve to pay more per unit.” “It’s very obvious a large lot will pay more, and we deserve to pay more. He said that people with large lots will still pay more, because they’re going to use more water. He said HWD’s proposed tier structure, although recently modified, is unfairly biased against owners of large parcels and larger families. GMIA’s Mark Schuppert moderated the forum. GMIA, representing the large unincorporated area of East County around La Mesa, offered eight recommendations to residents as well as to the water district for ways it can make the system fairer.įaced with water cutbacks and increasing rates across California, local residents expressed desire to do their part but not shoulder an unfair amount of the burden. Helix)-Residents poured into Fuerte Elementary School’s auditorium Thursday evening, May 15th to get a status update on Helix Water District’s (HWD) rate-increase proposals and express outrage over what they contend is an unfair tier-pricing system. GMIA spokesman Mark Schuppert, with Helix Water Board Directors Kathleen Coates Hedberg and De Ana R. Facebook Journalism Project covid-19 reporting.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |