Last night, the Hi-Desert Water District Board of Directors held a public hearing on rate increases for water service charges. The District received two written protests in opposition of the ordinance; 5,000 written protests were necessary in order to force the board of directors into stopping the rate increase ordinance. Assignment reporter Keith Bailey has the meeting details…
The board of directors for the Hi-Desert Water District conducted a public hearing on the district’s ordinance to increase the water service charges, which consist of a monthly fixed charge per meter size and volumetric rate per hundred cubic feet. With a full house in attendance and little opposition, the directors voted yes on the new ordinance that will increase the district’s water rates by 3 percent per year for the next five years.
Next, directors adopted a resolution that will keep the district compliant with a new state law that says residential water service cannot be disconnected for nonpayment until a payment has been delinquents for at least 60 days. The law also prohibits the water district from discontinuing service to customers who meet certain medical and financial hardship requirements.
