The San Diego County Local Area Formation Commission took a major step Monday toward allowing two rural water districts to leave the jurisdiction of the county Water Authority — by leaving the matter in the hands of the voters.
A local governing board voted to approve the separation of two North County water districts from the San Diego County Water Authority, moving forward their efforts to cut ties with the supplier in pursuit of cheaper water rates. The county’s Local Agency Formation Commission voted 5-3 in favor of allowing the Fallbrook Public Utility District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District to leave the central water agency and switch to Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside County.
The San Diego County Local Area Formation Commission took a major step Monday toward allowing two rural water districts to leave the jurisdiction of the county Water Authority — by leaving the matter in the hands of the voters.
In a 5 to 3 vote today, July 10, 2023, LAFCO voted to allow Fallbrook and Rainbow to detach from San Diego Water Authority (SDWA). Directors Desmond, Willis, Drake, Vanderlaan and White voted in favor of allowing the detachment, while Directors Anderson, Whitburn and Becker voted against allowing Fallbrook and Bonsall to detach.
Two North County farming communities can divorce the San Diego County Water Authority and buy cheaper water elsewhere. That’s what San Diego’s boundary referees, the Local Agency Formation Commission or LAFCO, decided Monday. It was the eight-member board’s third try voting on this controversial breakup that powerful politicians from San Diego, Los Angeles and even the state Legislature tried to defeat.
County leaders are considering allowing the cities of Fallbrook and Rainbow to switch from San Diego County Water Authority to a water district in Riverside County.
Already paying some of the highest water bills in the nation, customers of Padre Dam Municipal Water District as well as 22 other agencies could see their rates increase even more if two North County water districts secede from the San Diego County Water Authority.
Both the Fallbrook Public Utilities District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District have been trying to leave the CWA because they say the costs for the purchased water is too high, and they can get it cheaper by joining the Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside County.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria joined with regional agriculture, business, water, and elected leaders on July 7 to oppose a potential $200 million water bill increase for ratepayers across San Diego County.
“The proposed action will have significant, long-term economic impacts to most households in San Diego County. Nearly every family and business will see an increase in their water rates,” Mayor Gloria said. “The cost of living is a continuous struggle for many San Diegans and these proposed rate increases are unacceptable.”
Chair Nora Vargas of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors commented on the proposal’s impact on low-income residents and the lack of a countywide vote. “An unnecessary increase in water bills means taking money away each month from hardworking families who can least afford it,” she said. “Not only will this detachment proposal lead to higher water bills, we also won’t have a say in the matter.”
Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said it’s counterproductive to saddle businesses with additional bills. “This proposal would shift millions in added costs onto local businesses, many of which operate on thin margins,” Sanders said. “Our businesses face so many threats to success. Let’s not add to these challenges with an unnecessary water rate hike.”
Two water agencies in Fallbrook and Rainbow seek to leave the San Diego County Water Authority without paying the full cost of investments made on their behalf over the past several decades. On July 10, the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission’s (LAFCO) board is expected to vote on the “detachment” proposal, possibly with the inclusion of a limited “exit fee” for Fallbrook and Rainbow. However, LAFCO’s figures are based on years-old data and flawed projections that understate the annual costs of detachment by at least 50%.
Updated figures released this week show that disadvantaged communities, working families, farmers, and others across San Diego County will be forced to pay nearly $200 million more over the next decade for water service unless the agencies seeking to leave the Water Authority are required to fully cover their costs. LAFCO’s data don’t reflect the inflationary realities or the fact that the financial impacts of detachment will continue far beyond LAFCO’s five-year horizon.
“I am deeply concerned that LAFCO could make this momentous decision without ensuring the accuracy of the costs of detaching from the Water Authority or allowing residents countywide to vote on this scheme,” said Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz.
LAFCO’s staff recommendation to approve the detachment plan does not include a substantive analysis of impacts to disadvantaged communities or to agriculture in the Water Authority service area. Nor does it include the environmental analysis required by law.
Big turnout today by labor, business, ag, urban, rural, north, east, south and central San Diego County residents to oppose unfair water bill overcharges being considered by SDLAFCO on July 10. pic.twitter.com/XGypaY5qwZ
— San Diego County Water Authority💧 (@sdcwa) July 7, 2023
A coalition of county, city and labor officials held a news conference Friday morning to make their case against two North County rural water districts leaving the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA).
In updated numbers released this week, the SDCWA reported that it would cost San Diegans nearly $200 million over a decade if Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District were allowed to leave the 24-member agency.
La Mesa Vice Mayor Colin Parent said that was unfair to his constituents. The Helix Water District, which services La Mesa, was projected to pay an additional $1.2 million-plus if those two agencies leave.
The communities of Fallbrook and Rainbow are requesting to join a water district based in Riverside, saying water in San Diego is too expensive.
However, those who oppose the move say it will leave others paying $200 million more for water over the next decade.
A vote is expected at the County Administration Center on Monday that would address the request from Fallbrook and Rainbow to get their water from an agency in Riverside County.
