Voter's Statement

By Betty H. "Betty Olson" (Olson) Olson, Betty Olson

Statement explains what I have helped to accomplish as a member of the SMWD Board, my background, and what my views are toward rates, taxes, water quality and quantity as well as the problems facing us in terms of water scarcity.

I'm dedicated to a fiscally sound district, helping SMWD to create rainy day funds for replacement of facilities, smooth transitions in rates as water and power prices increase, and to ease property tax during a weak economy. In the 2002 power crisis many water districts raised rates; SMWD used rate reserves. SMWD refinances infrastructure bonds as interest rates drop to keep your taxes low, develops strategies to bring facilities online as needed, so economic downturns don't saddle ratepayers with extra costs, and raises rates only as necessary. Since 1996, SMWD added 23,000 homes, without increasing employee numbers or limiting service. We have $48,000,000 available to help meet future uncertainties. Rate stabilization funds cover operating gaps between increased water costs and rates, so your rates are not raised before costs increase.

I'm committed to conservation through policies encouraging reductions in water usage and increasing reclaimed water for irrigation. I helped establish SMWD's policy to reduce water use through programs for homeowner association greenbelt areas, large lot new homes, xeriscape and irrigation reduction classes; resulting in a decrease in treated water use of 7,000 AF even while adding new customers. My goal is for 33% of SMWD's water use to be supplied by reclaimed water, currently 19%.

Water reliability is critical and SMWD's wholesale water supplier MWD has no full allocation guarantees. Located in South Orange County and at the end of the pipe with no groundwater basin, SMWD has insured short-term reliability by purchasing storage in the El Toro reservoir, building Upper Chiquita Reservoir, utilizing local untreated groundwater and planning stormwater catchment basins for irrigation. For long-term reliability, SMWD has leased an option with Rancho Cucamonga to supply water for county approved growth and is the lead agency to bring a new water source to Southern California, diversifying our supplies, while insuring water source and environmental protection through monitoring. My background and experience is needed in this time of increasing water scarcity to plan for you today and your children's tomorrow.

Please vote Betty H. Olson Nov. 6.