24!

No,it's not the 24 hours in a day. It's the NUMBER of functioning WATER DISTRICTS in San Diego County. That's right TWENTY FOUR (24). Thank God 3 of them allow one or more of the other 21 to handle most of their affairs and,I assume billing.  What triggered this? Two weeks ago,July 9th,I was at the El Cajon City Council Meeting. Helix Water District (also serves some Santee residents)  was there for a presentation. Of their 89+ million annual budget ONLY 44% was for WATER PURCHASE. 56% was for ..... And they don't even bill for their sewer rates. The Council was considering adding the sewer bills to the property tax bill. They were a MESS. Anyway, I started looking,and discovered that in a traditionally fiscally conservative county we have 24 Water Districts, approximately ONE FOR EVERY 125,000 RESIDENTS. With boards,directors,buildings,administrative overheads. AND WE WONDER ABOUT WATER BILLS GOING UP UP AND AWAY. I DO. DO YOU?