The Cambria Community Services District approved water, sustainable water facility, and sewer rate increases at its most recent meeting; the new rates go into effect on July 1.
The board—with the exception of district board trustee Harry Farmer, who abstained—approved raising water rates by 10 percent, water facility fees by 14 percent, and sewer rates by 15 percent.
During public comment, residents expressed their frustration with the district for the rate hikes and for having to pay for a water facility that’s been shut off since 2017.
District board President David Pierson said the rate study and finance committees have stated that there is a need to boost the revenue coming from those rates.
“This rate increase that we’re going to vote on here shortly is necessary for us to continue on with what we’re trying to do—fixing the wastewater, and preserve the emergency water supply until it becomes the sustainable water facility,” Pierson said.
The extra funds will go toward the annual costs of operating and maintaining the district’s water and sewer systems and support capital improvements primarily needed to repair, replace, and/or upgrade aging infrastructure.
The residential monthly water rate will go from $15.86 to $17.45 on July 1, 2019, and $18.32 on July 2020. The sustainable water facility rates will go from $7.93 to $9.04 on July 1, and then $10.13 next July. The sewer rate will increase from $35.74 to $41.10 this July and $46.03 in July 2020.
According to a staff report, the water rate increases are designed to phase in capital improvement funding to an annual level of $700,000 over three years; the sewer rate increases will be used to phase in capital improvement funding to an annual level of $800,000 over three years; and the water facility rates will help restore balanced budgets, assuming the facility is in operation for two months of each year on average.
Paavo Ogren, interim Community Services District general manager, said that aside from assuring that operation and maintenance costs are covered, the district still needs to pay off the debt of the sustainable water facility, which is another reason the increases are necessary.
“That is the component of the [legal contract], which I would say tightened the noose really tight because if the unfortunate situation ever developed where you actually had to use your … property taxes, then the impacts on fire and facilities and other general fund operations that are funded by property taxes, they would be significantly impacted,” Ogren said. Δ
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 9, 2019.
The Emergency Water Supply facility that was built in October, 2014, has not been in operation since December, 2016. It has not operated at all for producing water needed during a Drought III Emergency. The facillity, after being built for almost five years, still does not have a regular Coastal Development Permit (CDP) approved by the SLO County Planning Commission. It is this facility, and the impoundment basin, which has been decommissioned by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, to dispose of the brine waste, that continues to cost the ratepayers, not just thousands, but into the millions of dollars to maintain, without a drop of water being produced for consumption for Cambrians–we haven’t needed it, as the last 3 years have provided ample water from the two aquifers that serve our community, and as mentioned above, with an emergency Coastal Development Permit, the plant can only run when a Stage III Emergency Condition is declared.
The rate increases stated in the article, are incorrect. Cambria bills bi-monthly and the following information is based on bi-monthly charges for Residential customers using between 1 and 4 units.
From my most recent bill from the Cambria Community Services District, due June 10, it states for SEWER charges, the following: “Sewer is a water consumption based rate $71.48. Base Charge + $4.13 per unit.” The current FIXED rate is $71.48. As of July 1, 2019, it will increase to $82.20, and July 1, 2020, the proposed increase is $92.06
The current rate for Sewer Quantity Charge based on metered water use for Residential using 1-4 units, currently is $4.13.
The newly adopted rates per unit, effective July 1, 2019, will be increased to $4.75 per unit, and July 1, 2020, if approved by the Board, will be increased to $5.32 per unit, in addition to the Base Charge of then, $92.06!
The WATER rates are as follows: The current FIXED rate for Residential is $31.72. July 1, 2019 it will increase to $34.90. and July 1, 2020, if approved by the Board, is scheduled to increase to $36.64.. The rates differ, depending on the size of the meter size, for both Commercial and Residential. Additionally, to the Fixed rate, are the Water Quantity Charges, based on each unit of water used which = 748 gallons. For Residential, 1-4 units, the currents fee per unit is $8.08. July, 1, 2019, the adopted fee will increase to $8.89 per unit, and July 1, 2020 the proposed fee is $9.33. These numbers represent the first of three Tiers, with each tier increasing in the dollar amounts.
The Emergency Water Supply(EWS), (or as the District refers to it, the Sustainable Water Facility (SWF), increases are as follows: FIXED SERVICE CHARGES: Residential: Current charge, $15.86. Adopted increase, July 1, 2019, $18.08, and proposed increase, July 1, 2020, $20.26. In addition to the Fixed Charge, the Quantity Charges, based on metered use, per unit (748 gallons) are: Tier I (of 3)- Current $1.75 per unit. July 1, 2019, $1.99. Proposed increase July 1, 2020, $2.23 per unit.
Again, I have only given the charges and increases for Residential use, not Commercial, or higher water-using customers, and only for those customers using between 1 and 4 units. This is for water we have not, or are currently receiving! (The plant has not produced water since December, 2016).
Tina Dickason,
Cambria resident.