There are three people running for two seats on the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board Election. Two are incumbents, Margaret Bruce and Randall Brown, with Bill Smallman as the challenger. We asked one question with Bill Smallman and Margaret Bruce responding.
Q: “With the added financial cost of merging with the Lompico Water District and the lower water usage due to water conservation during the drought, how would you keep water rates from rising?”
Margaret Bruce — I won’t. In the future, the Board will propose rate increases that meet the requirements of running the District responsibly. The Lompico merger agreement ensures Lompico customers cover their own costs. They are benefiting, and so is SLV Water District, through economies of scale. Future rates will be based on the capital, operating and reserve needs of the District. The SLV Water District is a great community asset and I am committed to ensuring its long-term financial health, with fair rates that also encourage conservation.
Bill Smallman — This question is misinformative. Lompico isn’t adding cost, but gain. Lompico is paying to replace 100% of it’s failing infrastructure, and it will have the lowest operating cost, adding 500 customers, lowering overhead % and keeping net cost down. Nobody can stop rising costs; what is important is a fair cost, which I am by far the most qualified candidate to maintain. If rates are too low, it costs more. For example, fixing broken water pipes on overtime vs. on schedule. In regard to the financial problems caused by people conserving too much, the base rate should be adjusted to be enough to maintain the District, and the tier money from heavy users going back to customers for conservation improvements.
