My Record on the Board

By Joseph C. Reichenberger

During my term on the Board of Directors, I have lowered the tax rate, maintained water rates the lowest in the valley, voted against raising director fees, supported a toilet rebate program, and secured a low interest loan for the City of Monterey Park.

Reduced the Property Tax Rate by 20%. In 1999, I voted to reduce the property tax rate from 0.035 to 0.025 per $100 of assessed valuation. This year I went against staff recommendation and convinced 4 ouf my fellow directors to support a further reduction to 0.024 per $100 of assessed valuation. I was able to do this because the District had accumulated sufficient reserves over the years through effective management and fiscal control. The reduction will not jeaporize the reserves for rate stabilization, catastrophes, capital projects, or operating reserves. We still have more than ample reserves for these purposes.

We still have a water rate of $130 per acre-foot for imported water. This is actually less than the District was charging when I first came on the Board. This rate is about 1/2 the rate that the Metropolitan Water District charges for its imported replacement water. This is a real benefit to the member cities in the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District.

I voted against increasing the fees that Directors receive while attending meetings or on District sponsored business. Unfortunately I was not able to get a majority vote. I do, however, refuse to take the increase in directors fees that I am entitled to. I receive the same compensation that I did 10 years ago when I came on the Board.

I was instrumental in securing a low-interest loan for the City of Monterey Park to construct a groundwater treatment system to remove contaminants that caused a critical well to be shut down. The loan is from the District's reserves, and is for 1/2 of the Local Agency Infestment Fund rate. Potentially this would save the City nearly $200,000. In addition, because they had a quick source of funds, the City could quickly construct the treatment facility and get the well on line before the high summer water demand.

I strongly encouraged and supported a low-flush toilet rebate program. This was a District first. In May 2000 we gave away over 900 new toilets to the residents of Monterey Park, Alhambra, Sierra Madre and Azusa -- our member cities. Over 700 of these were in Alhambra and Monterey Park. This will save over 8 million gallons of water a year for these two cities alone. In addition it provided over $5000 each to the Mark Kepple High School Football Program and the Alhambra High School Band for their participation in the program. Band members and football players and their supporters help distribute and load the toilets. I am proud of this program as it saves water and helps the community.

I am proud of my record and would like to have your vote to continue these programs.