PALMDALE – At a public hearing attended by a dozen customers Monday night, the Palmdale Water District (PWD) Board of Directors agreed unanimously to increase water revenues by 8.1% annually for the next five years (2020-2024). The new water rates will take effect in January 2020.
The Board voted 5-0 after listening to the ratepayers express their concerns for rising water costs during the hearing’s public comment period. PWD also received 101 written letters protesting the plan for the increase, with 13 deemed invalid. It would have taken 15,895 valid letters, or 50% plus one of parcel owners/renters, to prevent the adoption of the rate increase.
Before casting his vote, Board President Vincent Dino assured the audience that he and his fellow directors had spent hours understanding the 2019 Water Rate Study and how it will impact their constituents.
“I want everyone to know that our vote last night was the responsible vote,” Director Dino said Tuesday. “My fellow directors and I voted for a plan that will allow PWD to be the top-notch water agency that it is while making sure the impact on small water users, or residential users, is minimized as much as possible. We are tasked with ensuring more than 115,000 people continue to have high-quality water in the future, and we did that by adopting this water rate plan.”
The 2019 Water Rate Study, a six-month-long process, was conducted by Robert D. Niehaus, Inc. (RDN), an independent economic consulting firm. They used economic trends in California and PWD’s detailed financial history to recommend rate structures that would ensure the district meets its financial goals while allowing for infrastructure improvements and keeping rates reasonable for customers.
The average PWD residential customer uses 17 hundred cubic feet (hcf), or about 12,716 gallons, of water per month. The new water rate in 2020 will increase the customer’s monthly cost by $5.07, or from $53.56 to $58.63.
The increase in rates and the plan for a $20 million bond in 2021 will allow PWD to work on $30 million worth of 100 specific projects in the next five years to tackle aging infrastructure and equipment.
[Information via news release from the Palmdale Water District.]
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Cindy says
I live in Littlerock on 2 ac land, I have horses, chickens, goats and pigs. I have a back yard that has grass 60 ft by 60 ft and I turn on the sprinklers everyday. My son lives in Palmdale in a house with his family of 3, he has a grass yard the size of 12 ft by 6 ft his October bill is $113.00
My water bill is always lower than my son’s water bill, can anyone explain to me how this works and PWD wants more money??? Doesn’t all the water come from the same place called earth? Maybe PWD needs some education on how to manage the company and maintenance of its infrastructure from my water company and stop stealing the peoples money
condemthenation says
their only raising the rates to ream the people to pay to light california on fire and use all the water reserves. [removed] all you fire departments in california. your [removed] destroying the enviroment with your [removed] killing making animals sick beyond repair because all their natural remedies are cut off from them by gates and [removed] fences you [removed] own nothing. and yet do everything. [removed] you all [removed]
condemthenation says
rally the mexicans and put that fire out you should have seen some of the shame full work on news we fire anyone on a cell phone were i come from on any yob. OVERNIGHT THEY SAY well compares to me ill want whistle put it out then go get sushi.
Kikj says
Like it’s not enough what they are charging now that they just want to raise it more smh
Luke says
You just assured you all will eventually be voted out.
Always Trumper says
Blatant corruption, incompetence and outright piracy! I know several hydraulic engineers that left PWD just because of it and they told me how corrupt PWD really is.
Joe Sage says
I’ve heard the same thing. Why is there no investigation? The GM has control over the board like never before.
H2O Rate$ says
“The increase in rates and the plan … to tackle aging infrastructure and equipment.”
And then there are pensions and retiree health care benefits.
Me says
This board is run by republicans (trump fans) who know nothing but take peoples money
Enough!
They are Democrats idiots says
This is California they are ignorant Democrats
You’re ignorant just like the governor and the mayor Palmdale Lancaster and the mayor of Los Angeles all a bunch of crooked thieves Department of Water and Power
John Thomas says
Better recheck as Kathy “job killer” MaClaren is a Rex supporter, pro union and a Democrat, matter of fact name one board member who is not a Dem. they all have voted to raise rates every time it comes before the board.
Nicholas Toth says
Is that a mistake 8.1% each year for the next 5 years or approximately 40.5 %.
Joe Sage says
The residents were warned about this union controlled Board, cost plus budgeting and very little cost containment. This entire board are under the influence of the Democratic Party. 8% annual increase!! Think about that over 4 years, who does that ???
Union Made says
They are all Rex stooges. IBEW. Rex. Stooges. What did you expect?
William says
I don’t live in the Palmdale Water District.
I must have a 6th sense about things. I looked at a lot of homes when I moved to the Antelope Valley 20 years ago.
-I didn’t choose Lancaster, thank God. I knew there was something fishy ’bout the place.
-I didn’t choose the Palmdale Water District without really knowing anything about it.
-I did choose a nice neighborhood with great neighbors all these years.
You don’t read my comments complaining about Palmdale just when Rex installs his people in Palmdale’s City Hall.
The way I see it, I attracted nice neighbors to my street as I just met the new ones yesterday and they are great. For those of you that complain about “stuff” I figure you attract that “stuff” around you and you would do it wherever you went.
It doesn’t make sense but that’s how the universe works. Look at all the criminals Trump has attracted to himself compared to President Obama. It works for everyone that way.
Too bad if you don’t like it. The universe doesn’t care if you don’t like taxes or me or anything else.
Always Trumper says
I don’t think that was really William. He would capitalize the “D” in “Democrats”. Don’t impersonate people you can’t hang with in intellect or talent. Hrrrumph……
Everlast says
That’s what I said when William impersonated me.
MST3K says
Always Trumper…The use of “democratic,” in (democratic water bill) would not be capitalized. “It’s all for the Party.”
William says
I’m not in PWD.
condemthenation says
[removed] the lines that blur us dem or republic an [removed] is an [removed]. and crack is drugs. i have no par with you all but want everything free and to give freely i can see the innerworkings of a nice oiled system and it starts with the destruction of both dem and republic lets not fight anymore. lets do exactly as the bible says. Its your choice. love you all who see this, and can share the same love.
CONDEMTHENATION
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WITH ACTION
Did The Math says
Over the next five years, that’s actually an approximate total of a 47.6 percent increase.