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Riverside, San Bernardino County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Smart Voter

The cost of large water projects, from the local region to statewide, is significant! How are costs recovered?

By Mary Ann (Harvey) Melleby

Candidate for Director; San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency

This information is provided by the candidate
Costs are recovered through ratepayers and through government grants and loans when available. The concept "users pay" is common + those who use the facilities and services, pay.
Agencies, like the Pass Agency, who are contract members of the State Water Project, have an obligation to assist in maintaining and operating the system that provides water to them. The Pass Agency receives its funding from taxes levied on property owners. Thus, property owners are paying for the development of the new facilities that will bring the full allotment of State Water Project water to the Pass area by 2014. Current and past property owners have been paying for State Project water and facilities since the Agency was founded in 1961. The facilities to accept the water were not completed until 2003. As a region, we should be appreciative that the water leaders were astute in knowing that we would need that water supply in the future!

According to the 2012 Strategic Plan, the region will need additional water supplies beyond our allotment in 2023-2025 time frame to support new development. It is my belief that existing property owners should not be obligated to pay for the additional water supply and facilities. New development should be the responsible party.

How we structure the development of new water supply and facilities will require significant financial investments and how we structure funding mechanisms is critical to our success and maintaining affordability to ratepayers.

In the words of President John F. Kennedy, " We prepare the way for those who come after us." Most water projects are 50, and in some cases, 100 year impact projects. Some take years to plan and implement. They are "forever decisions" requiring the most prudent planning, development, financing and on-going attention.

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ca/rv Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 23, 2012 09:10
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