OC Political

An effort to overturn the Yorba Linda Water District’s recent rate increase has qualified for the ballot.

The recently-formed Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association submitted 5,520 signatures to overturn the YLWD rate increase.  2,157 valid signatures were required for the referendum to qualify for the ballot.  Conducting a random sampling of 500 signatures, the Orange County Registrar of Voters found that 444 (88.8%) were valid.  Using the random sample, an estimated 4,902 signatures were valid, 227% of the signatures required.

The rate increase was approved by the YLWD Board of Directors on September 17 and went into effect on October 1.  The YLTA began circulating for signatures on September 25 and submitted them on October 14.  The Registrar completed the verification of the random sample of 500 signatures on October 22.

At its November 12 meeting, the YLWD Board can choose to rescind the rate increase, place the rate increase on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot, or place the rate increase on a special election ballot.

When the YLWD rate increase was implemented, the district blamed “the Governor’s Executive Order and Regulations mandated by the State Water Resources Control Board…The regulations, which impose a 36% conservation mandate for YLWD, dramatically impact the financial stability of the agency.  The increase on the Basic Service Charge is a direct result of the revenue loss the District will face due to those State Regulations.”

The YLTA argues that the YLWD “used the drought to raise reserves, grow their overhead and increase administrative salaries and expenses without full public disclosure.”