By Brian Hews • May 24, 2021
COMMERCE, CA – Only months after Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia’s controversial bill failed, a bill that attempted to place Central Basin Water (CB) into receivership despite an $8 million reserve and a budget that showed a slight net operating margin (NOM), it is evident that the new CB Board, led by Art Chacon, and management team, led by Alex Rojas, cleaned up the mess left by Kevin Hunt, and the corporate sabotage of former Finance Director Andrew Hamilton, earning a $2.5 NOM and announcing a rate reduction.
Despite a projected statewide drought, the CB Board approved a 14 percent reduction in imported water rates for cites and other customers in its service area. The reduction was approved during the District’s monthly Board meeting on May 24.
Ventura water, sewer rates to increase yearly through 2026
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Starting July 1, Ventura residents will be paying about $8 more a month on average for their water and sewer services, in part to develop new sources of drinking water in a warming climate.
Along with upgrades to pipelines and standard wastewater treatment, the higher payments will help finance a new advanced water purification plant that will turn the city s treated sewage water into drinking water, city officials said.
The Ventura City Council unanimously approved the higher utility charges Monday night. Residents will see their water and sewer rates increase 7% and 6%, respectively, each year for the next five years. The increase means residents will pay an average of $7.76 more each month, the officials said.
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A water district locked in a long-running legal battle over residential rates with the city of Ventura recently agreed to pay $1 million, but the fight does not appear to be over.
City Attorney Gregory Diaz said Friday he expected the United Water Conservation District to exercise its option to appeal.
Ventura has filed lawsuits every year against the water district since the agency implemented increased charges in 2011-12. This settlement is for fiscal year 2019-20.
The district charged residential customers three times more than agricultural customers for groundwater, and the city challenged its methodology.
A trial court recently asked both parties to focus on just one year to resolve their issues. Both parties agreed to the court s rules and decided to center on 2019-20.
Ventura plans to modernize its computer systems, upgrade fire stations and fortify its reserves with an anticipated $28 million in one-time revenue from the federal recovery act and a Thomas Fire settlement.
The spending plan also includes money for repairs and expansion of City Hall and improvements in the pedestrian-only downtown shopping and dining area, under the city s Main Street Moves program.
The new revenue is part of the city s proposed $307.4 million budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The Ventura City Council reviewed the proposal Monday at its first budget session, in which council members expressed frustration over the proposal s lack of funding for reported deficiencies in the fire department.
Everyone from community members to local businesses are invited to participate in the general plan community workshop from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday via Zoom.