The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, and Union City and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).
Questions & Answers
1. Why have water rates gone up and up?
The simple answer is that the cost of water that ACWD must purchase to deliver to our customers has risen dramatically in the past few years. For example, Hetch Hetchy water, which is sold to us by the San Francisco PUC has tripled in cost since 2008 and will rise another 40 percent by 2018. Water from the State Water Project (if we can get it), will rise in cost between 33 and 66 percent in the next few years. In addition, the costs to maintain our infrastructure and make critical seismic improvements to maintain a reliable water system have increased and must be reflected in our rates. Finally, the drought and associated reduction in the quantity of water sold forces the district to apportion our fixed costs over fewer units of water sold.
We have done our best to keep our water rates as low as possible -- even though our rates have risen each year, we continue to be below the Bay Area average, and a recent benchmark study showed ACWD be operationally efficient, with one of the lowest operational costs per connection compared against similarly sized water utilities in California. Nevertheless, I will continue to look for ways to make ACWD more efficient, using technology and automation to reduce costs. One thing I will not support is reneging on our commitment to providing you safe and reliable water.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).
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