How to resolve AdBlock issue? CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – On Friday the Clearlake Oaks County Water District Board will hold the second and last of two hearings required under state law as it prepares to raise water and sewer rates.
The public hearing will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, April 24, at the district's administrative office, 12952 E. Highway 20.
The documents associated with the proposed increase can be seen below, picked up from the district’s administrative office during regular business hours or downloaded from the district’s Web site at www.clocwd.org .
The proposed changes include a billing system that would switch from active accounts to all service connections, and a 3-percent per-year increase from 2016 to 2018 on the water side. Totals can be seen in the graphics shown here or in the public hearing notice below.
General Manager Matt Bassett told Lake County News that the district needs to implement the rate increases for both sewer and water services in order to help finance capital expenditure projects, specifically, upgrading aging infrastructure.
On the water side alone, Bassett said the 1960's-era infrastructure is responsible for a 60-percent water loss due to leaks for the first three months of this year.
Under the guidelines of Proposition 218, passed by voters in 1996, governments must follow certain rules when increasing or implementing new charges, fees or assessments.
Proposition 218 requires notices and public hearings, and that such new costs be put before property owners on a ballot.
The district's first public hearing on the proposed increases took place April 16.
Bassett said it went well, and while there were some vocal opponents, only about 50 of the possible 2,200 votes came in negative.
He said there would have needed to be more than 1,100 no votes to stop the increases from moving forward.
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April 2015 - Clearlake Oaks County Water District water and sewer rate ordinance
