Protest or Not?
One thing is certain: Cambrians have a great deal more information about the CCSD now than we did during the first 218 protest vote. Last fall, the reasons for protesting the rate increase were very easy to explain and understand. A collection of Cambrians that had come together to protest that increase continued to meet, examining the state of the CCSD to figure out whether or not a rate increase was warranted. After the rate increase was rejected, our group took it on ourselves (at then board president Funke-Bilu’s request) to work on a rate increase that would be appropriate and acceptable to the community.
Why would a group of people who had worked so hard to turn back the increase requested by the CCSD? First, there was a basic feeling that the responsible thing to do: if you don’t like the solution presented, present an alternative solution. As we continued to examine the CCSD’s operations and financial state, it was clear an increase was needed. Because the Board can only take action on items on the agenda, we requested a place on the December 2007 agenda to announce our intentions and, hopefully, have the Board recognize the group and its work. The December meeting was canceled, so we requested and were put on the January 22, 2008 agenda.
To say the group was disappointed at the Board’s reaction to our presentation would be an understatement. Their reaction was more like lack of action. But we continued to meet and wrestle the numbers to come up with a solution that would work for both the district and the community. At the March 6, 2008 meeting, the CFRCCSD was on the agenda and presented a resolution and suggestion for new rates. Here is the resolution:
Resolution Regarding CCSD Water and Wastewater Rates Increase.
Whereas,
the Cambrians for Fiscally Responsible CCSD agree that the current shortfalls in operating costs need to be funded; and
Whereas,
the Cambrians for Fiscally Responsible CCSD agrees there are certain Capital Improvements Projects needed to ensure health, public safety, and compliance with state and federal regulations and the appropriate funding mechanism is through bonds; and
Whereas,
the Cambrians for Fiscally Responsible CCSD believe the community will accept increased rates to fund the operating shortfall and bond issuance if the CCSD agrees to a reduction of 10% in the expenditures of the water and wastewater enterprise funds, as is being proposed at both the state and county levels; and
Whereas,
the Cambrians for Fiscally Responsible CCSD have developed an interim rate proposal to address these issues based on community input and the facts and figures as provided by the CCSD;
Therefore,
Be it resolved that this board shall direct CCSD staff to work with CFRC in reviewing our proposal and yours to come up with rates acceptable to the community to be presented at an upcoming CCSD meeting.
Adopted on ____________________________
By ______________________________________
Drafted by the
Cambrians for a Fiscally Responsible CCSD,
Rates Committee February 29, 2008
The Board made no response to this resolution or our rates suggestions. And nearly eight months after the first protest was certified, the district put forth a second rate increase and will be holding the public hearing in about a week and a half (July 14, 2008 at 5:30pm). It’s unclear what took so long or why the CCSD staff didn’t accept the help from the well-qualified volunteers of the CFRCCSD. Tammy Rudock seems to have spent nearly all her time on it, since she is now using “putting together the new budget and rates” to explain anything else she hasn’t gotten done. It is a time consuming process, clearly. Let’s hope if the protest succeeds this time, a revision won’t take eight months.
The CFRCCSD, as a group, is not working on the current rates protest. Although the CCSD chose not to take all the suggestions we made, the group felt this increase was more reasonable and the CCSD is being more responsive. As they proudly trumpet in a full page ad on page two of the last three Cambrians (how much did that cost?) “they have listened”. They listened; especially to things that were flat-out illegal (like including the BRP on our water bills) and now pat themselves on the back for complying with the law (”The new rate propsal will be used solely for water and sewer projects”). The CCSD is in no way perfect. They have played a positive role in the community. The staff of the water and wastewater departments are capable, professional and friendly. Many pups and their pals would not have such a great Dog Park. The CCSD is one of the only employers in town that pays its employees a salary so the can afford to live here (without 2 or more jobs). The Summer Sundays in the Park Concert Series helps support local talent and provides excellent free entertainment for locals and tourists. The District offers rebates for replacing a water guzzling washer with an efficient one. But there are many critical issues that remain unsolved and must be addressed. Fortunately for everyone in Cambria, more Cambrians are keeping a watchful eye on what the district is doing and passing the word along.
So back to the question at hand: Protest or No? I suggest asking yourself these questions if you are still on the fence:
- If you protest, is there an alternative rates proposal you would support?
- What changes would they need to make in the proposal to have you support it?
- Could those changes be effected in some way other than the 218 protest?
If you find yourself answering yes to the last question and no to the first, you might want to rethink your protest. The CCSD may be overstaffed or overpaid or pay too much for goods and services, but they chose not to invite the community into the budget planning process. Based on the budget the Board has already approved, a rate increase is not only prudent, but necessary. The CCSD has to stop running the water and wastewater departments at a deficit and they clearly don’t intend to do it by reducing their spending - so we must pay more.
There are compelling reasons on both sides of the fence of the 218 protest. What are your concerns? How does this impact your household? It will affect your community - in many ways. We should expect more from ourselves and the local government that exists to serve us. The CCSD should welcome the participation of more Cambrians and more Cambrians should get involved. This is a democracy, isn’t it?
The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action. -Frank Herbert US science fiction novelist (1920 - 1986)
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Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
- Cambria's Water History
- What is a CSD anyway?
- League of California Cities Offers Insight: Ethics in Public Service
- CCSD Board Discussion On Rates
- Looking Forward with Clarity (aka: What's Next?)
Tags: 93428, Cambria, water rates
July 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Thanks, Amanda, for helping to keep conversation about democracy alive in this town.
Having read the Declaration of Independence (1776) this morning and listening now to “Freedom is Coming: Songs of Protest and Praise from South Africa” (1984), I celebrate political struggle here in Cambria. Having listened to Bach fugues while reading about the growing, fierce economic inequality in the United States, I hope the struggle here in Cambria attends to financial unfairness too.
“We shall not give up the fight. We have only started.” The 4th of July inspired many in South Africa. May it inspire many in the United States again. Listening to the Fairfield Four singing “Standing in the Safety Zone,” I know our history urges us to march toward liberty and justice for all.