Voice of the Coast

In the upcoming election for the Coastside County Water District (CCWD) board, Jim Marsh is running against incumbents Ev Ascher and Chris Mickelson. The management of the water district’s finances is a key issue in this race.

Ascher and Mickelson recently voted to raise water rates by 15%, claiming that the rate hike is needed to compensate for money siphoned off by recent state budget actions. Their claim is disingenuous. The additional cash coming in from higher rates will actually help pay for a big increase in infrastructure spending (a major pipeline expansion project), and a dramatic increase in employee compensation. In the last four years, the average staff salary has risen 30%, and retirement contributions an astonishing 385%.

The balance of the financing for the infrastructure spending will be drawn from CCWD’s multi-million dollar horde of cash reserves. Under Ascher and Mickelson, CCWD is forcing current residents (whose past excess bill payments have built up the cash reserves) to subsidize the cost of delivering water to future housing developments.

Good stewardship of the public’s funds requires CCWD to rebate excess cash reserves to current customers, not to subsidize future development on the Coastside. Jim Marsh is quite correct is stating that the water board’s current interests lie more with developers than with ratepayers.

Kevin J. Lansing
Half Moon Bay