By Mary O’KEEFE

A public meeting was held by the Crescenta Valley Water District on Tuesday night concerning the proposed water and wastewater rate increases and rate system change. 

The meeting was one in a series of meetings, outreach and one-on-one discussions with the community over a year.

“The [CVWD] board and staff have held numerous workshops, surveys, interviews, open office hours and town halls to educate and receive information from customers about our operations and [possible] rate [increase],” said CVWD Board of Directors President Jeffrey Johnson. 

The public meeting was an opportunity for customers to only ask questions and make comments; the board and staff did not offer any responses at that time.  

There were about 40 customers at the meeting. Several of them took the opportunity to speak. 

La Crescenta resident Jonas Williams said he, and his wife, had written a protest letter concerning the rate change and the rate system. 

“We have several issues that we believe are biased against single-family homeowners,” he said. 

The proposed budget-based billing system would be based on the number of people in a household. A specific amount of water would be assigned to the household using that information. 

Williams added there needs to be a financial “watchdog” that reviews expenditures by the CVWD. 

“Since 2019 we have requested the district to include quantifiable cost reductions in the budget process,” he added. 

He listed fees and salaries in the CVWD budget versus the proposed budget for 2026 that includes a 60% to 71% increase in director fees and a 54% increase in salaries. 

Another resident, Bruce Gibson, said what most customers voiced.

“The budget-based water rates is explained here [in the outreach form] and I still don’t get it,” he said.

“What does it matter how many people live in our house?” Gibson asked. 

He also explained how he has the ability to capture 700 gallons of rainwater and has taken other actions to conserve water. 

He and many others in attendance felt the proposed budget-based rate change would not promote conservation and asked if it could be explained how this new system would help inspire people to save water. 

“I am thrilled to see this very detailed report from Water Resources Economics,” said resident Sherry Mudd. “But what I don’t see [in the report] is a line item about the [general manager] salary. That’s important to know.” 

She also asked about the costs of consultants who were used to prepare the report or help with the outreach. She asked the district staff if they could create a parallel report on how much operations cost 20 years ago compared to today. 

“I am simply looking at historical percentages of income versus expenses 20 years, 10 years and five years [ago to present],” she said. 

CVWD board and staff took notes as the customers were speaking and said they would answer questions posed or implement some of the suggestions. 

The bottom line is that most who attended the meeting were in deep confusion on how the new budget-based rate will change their charges as opposed to the present tier usage structure … and where the funds from the increased costs will be going within CVWD.  

CVW has reached out to CVWD to help clarify the reasoning behind the change in the billing system and the proposed increase in costs. A reporter with CVW is scheduled to speak with CVWD management and will report on that conversation.

The next public meeting is on June 24 at 6 p.m. and after that meeting a vote will be taken concerning the proposed increase and rate system change during the regular CVWD board meeting.