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Politics & Government

Padre Dam Board 'Rebalances' Water Bills

The effect should be cost-neutral to ratepayers- fees are another issue.

The directors of voted Friday afternoon to make changes in water rates and fixed cost billing.

The actions are considered necessary because of the conservation measures put in place by commercial and residential ratepayers over the past few years, causing a 34 percent drop in water sales by the District, and the concurrent loss of income from those sales.

Chief Financial Officer Karen Jassoy told the board and an audience of concerned ratepayers that their bills should reflect little or no change in the checks they write each billing cycle.

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“Since the drought is pretty much over, there will be more water available, and you’ll be paying a lower rate for the water you do use,” Jassoy said. “But, in order to help pay the fixed costs we have to pay to the County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District, we need to charge the ratepayers more for that.”

Jassoy said the fixed cost change would mean an increase of fees of $45 per year on average, up from the $37 dollars a year we ratepayers now pay. Padre Dam still will come nowhere near defraying the total fixed costs the District has to pay. The District has saved some $7 million over the past few years, by cuts in personnel, putting off capital improvement projects, and other cost-cutting means, but it’s still several million dollars in the red. More and deeper cuts are anticipated.

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“There’s going to be a lot more pain at this end before this is over,” Director Doug Wilson said. Director agreed that very painful cuts are on the way, fairly soon.

A small but vocal group of ratepayers spoke against the rebalancing. Russell Buckley of La Mesa took the board to task for providing and funding what he called ridiculous pensions for retiring employees, far above what comparable private industry gets.

Santee resident Victor Leyva said he was protesting the meeting itself, because it was held at a time when most ratepayers had to be at work. A feeling directors said they agreed with.

“I would have no problem having these meeting on a weekday, rather than a Friday afternoon, and holding them at a later hour, maybe 6 p.m., so more people could be here,” said board chairman .

Some audience members seemed not to get the fact that their bills would likely not change, and admitted they were confused by the somewhat legalistic language of the notice advertising the meeting.

The final vote was unanimous to adopt the changes in rates and fixed charges.

Go here to see individual details about rate changes.

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