Get 15% less, Pay 25% More - Bay Area Water Agency & Pent up Inflation

This past week was the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency’s (BAWSCA), the agency that wholesale agency that handles water for most of California Assembly D21, board meeting to approve this fiscal year’s budget. The agenda (https://bawsca.org/uploads/agendas/22_BAWSCA_May19_Agenda_PACKET_FINAL.pdf )

proposed the following:

Proposed Fiscal Year 2022-23 Work Plan, Results to be Achieved, and Operating Budget

That the Board approve the:

1. Proposed FY 2022-23 Work Plan and Results to be Achieved;

2. Proposed Operating Budget of $4,720,885

3. Proposed funding plan of a 25% assessment increase ($4,838,897) and a $75,000 transfer from the Balancing Account; and

4. Authorization of a transfer of $193,012 to the General Reserve.

The Board voted to recommend the above actions.

Then minutes later the CEO, Nicole Sandkulla, informed everyone that given the drought, BAWSCA will be asking its ratepayers to reduce consumption by 15 percent.

So bottom line ratepayers will pay more for less!

While the agency does not detail expenses in sufficient detail, we do know that they are incurring substantial legal costs regarding the Bay Delta Plan (not supported by residents), spending money to support the Voluntary Agreements (not supported by residents) and looking to support raises for staff. Staff presented the board options of raising assessments of 20, 25 or 30% making it appear that 25% was an equitable middle point. In fact, if expenses were properly managed scenarios of 10,15 or 20% might be just as effective and of course be a lot more affordable to the rate payers.

Everyone is complaining about inflation, now we have the agency responsible for the districts water supply, summarily deciding that it can rollout a 25% assessment increase. If this wasn’t horrifying enough, this assessment is not a one-time assessment but looks to become permanent.

BAWSCA was formed in 2002 by Assembly Bill 2058. I am running for CA State Assembly D21 and I know that right now residents are being heavily impacted by inflation and more is likely on the way. ( https://www.ocregister.com/202... ) Meanwhile, candidates for assembly instead of dealing with the issues that will surely impact their constituents are competing to see who is the biggest liar or the most negative campaigner. (https://www.smdailyjournal.com...)

Time to refocus on the issues and solve the problems that affect the district like inflation and overbuilding! I welcome your support. Please visit my campaign website at www.taniasole.com and don't forget to vote for me, the only Green Party Candidate, not getting caught up in ridiculous intraparty fighting, but instead focused on the issues that residents care about.