Posted by: thepinetree on 06/23/2013 10:13 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 06/23/2013 10:13 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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Water Rates and Seed Corn ~ Letter To The Editor by Al Segalla
Copperopolis, CA...In the olden days, a farmer growing corn would save a portion of the harvest as seed corn to plant next year. He didn’t have to do this; he could eat the seed corn. But, if he ate the seed corn, there would be no crop next year and the family would suffer.
When water systems are created, the life expectancy of the parts is known and money is needed to be put aside for eventual replacement or repair. The managers don’t have to do this, but if they don’t, the customers will suffer when expensive repairs are needed. Responsible ownership of the system requires maintaining the important replacement reserve.
It came to pass, in Calaveras County, that many water companies ate their seed corn and asked the county water district (CCWD) to bail them out. After all, the state gave the water district the power to tax all the local people. A problem developed, when it was discovered that the District also ate their seed corn in order to obey the many costly and unneeded government regulations. Some of this cost was passed to the state and federal government who had the power to tax everybody. A new problem developed when it was discovered that the federal and state governments also ate their seed corn resulting in a huge spending problem.
Five years ago and periodically, the District increased the rates to replenish the seed corn. However, they ate the seed corn again. Now they are asking again for another huge rate increase over the next five years to replenish the seed corn.
The good news is that a majority of rate payers can reject the rate increase, if they get their protest letter to the District before July 10.
If successful, the protest could be the beginning of reform of CCWD to increase responsibility to the rate payer and improve management of the system.
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