Platform

By Michael Mitoma

Mike Mitoma will work to reform the policies of the Board that led to the recent corruption scandal and vote to protect ratepayers from unreasonable rate increases. He will make the public aware of the District's practices that are not in the public's interest.

As a Director, he will work to reform the policies of the Board to protect ratepayers from unreasonable rate increases. He will make the public aware of the District's practices that are not in the public's interest.

He is the only candidate with the experience to make changes. Mitoma has extensive business and government experience. Mitoma was president of a bank, a CEO of a technology Company, and the Mayor of Carson.

Mitoma was elected to the Carson City Council after the conviction of a council member. During the ten years he was in office, there was no corruption. After his departure 4 council members were convicted of corruption. He can end the corruption of water board.

Mitoma will investigate the spending of the Board and its Directors. He will expose any corrupt practices. Mitoma will vote to end the Director's discretionary spending fund which allowed former Director Smith to use the fund for personal expenses. He will audit each Director's fund for illegal spending. Smith embezzled money for three years and could have continued his embezzling if a whistle blower has not called it to law enforcement's attention. There are no controls to prevent the use of water board funds for personal enrichmment.

Mitoma is outraged that the five Directors were paid a total of $288,000 in salary and benefits in 2012. This is for a part-time position. Mitoma believes this position is public service and Directors should not make an executive's salary for serving the public.

Mitoma is an independent candidate. Former Director Ron Smith was recruited and supported by members of the West Basin Municipal Water Board. This "good old boys" network allowed the board to act without any oversight,give no-bid contracts to insiders and led to the corruption that took place.

Current Directors are again supporting the candidacy of some individuals; it's time for Mitoma's independent leadership.

Directors are prohibited by law from participating in the West Basin Pension Plan. To get a retirement from the water board the Director's have circumvented this prohibition. They have set up a special pension plan (PARS) for themselves. Mitoma believes being a board member is a public service and that board directors should not be entitled to a pension.

The District has had budget deficits in 7 of the last 10 years. One year they had only a $11.00 surplus. Mitoma will work to balance the budget. Mitoma balanced Carson's budget each year as Mayor. He left the city with its largest budget surplus in the city's history.

WBMWD's operating expenses have increased $14 million this year. The District has 38 full-time employees of which 28 have salaries and benefits exceeding $100,000. Mitoma will conduct a critical review of the District's salaries and expenses and work to reduce spending.

The District's unrestricted fund balance (surplus) has dropped 56% from $96 million to $54 Million in the past 7 years. Mitoma will work to increase the surplus.

The WBMWD continues to raise water rates. Mitoma will work to stabilize water rates. For FY 2013-14, West Basin's Board of Directors adopted a $17 increase in its water reliability charge and a $8 increase on the Readiness-To-Serve charge.