Page 2 Golden State Water (GSW)
customers in North Tustin and Rocking Horse Ridge have been notified of rate increases for 2016-18. Overall rate hikes ap- pear to be 6.2 percent, but the ad- dition of a usage “tier four” will boost costs higher and faster by reducing allowances in the lower- priced tiers. The new tier one, at $3.21 per
100 cubic feet (CCF), cuts off at 10 CCF; tier two, at $3.69, cuts off at 19 CCF; and tier 3, at $4.25, ends at 45 CCF. John Sears of North Tustin’s “Stop the Ripoff” applied the new rate schedule to his September water bill and found it leapt from $512.36 to $607.11.
Fightin’ words The specter of Golden State’s
increased demands has strength- ened the resolve of Sears and many other GSW customers to rid the community of the private- ly-owned water company. Stop the Ripoff and the Foothill Com- munities Association (FCA) are encouraging disgruntled GSW households to join them in the fight to oust the water baron in favor of a publicly-owned pro- vider. An FCAsurvey sent out earlier
this year indicated that 99.7 per- cent of responding households support local control of water; 96.9 percent would vote in favor of a bond to pay for it. Overall response to the survey, however, remains below 51 percent, the number needed to validate a con- tinuation of the effort. North Tustin is not alone in
For more Paid for by Kathy Moffat for School Board 2014 ID # 1372010
its desire to replace GSW with a more economical public supplier. The cities of Ojai and Claremont are further along in the process, and FCAstays in touch with them to learn from their experiences.
It can happen here Eighty-seven percent of the
voters in Ojai, population 7,461, approved bonds of $65 million for the purchase of GSW's local infrastructure last year.
Since
Foothills Sentry More water rate hikes looming
then, GSWhas sued the city twice to stop the effort. It has lost twice and missed its last filing deadline in the ongoing court battle. The Claremont City Council
approved $300,000 last year for a financial appraisal of the area’s water system. The council subse- quently unanimously approved a bond initiative to be placed on the November ballot. The $135 mil- lion bond will cover a $56 million offer for the water system, plus
legal fees, court costs and transi- tion costs. With enough support, FCA in-
tends to place its own initiative on the ballot next June, asking GSW customers in Cowan Heights, Lemon Heights and Rocking Horse Ridge to support a bond to buy out GSW. Afeasibility study is complete and a financial analy- sis is underway. A general meet- ing to discuss the issue is slated for some time in November.
for Marines As they do each year, the resi-
dents of Villa Park are preparing to host Marines from the Camp Pendleton School of Infantry for home-style celebrations on Thanksgiving. More volunteers are needed to
host 135 young Marines away from home for the first time. If you live in Villa Park and wish to share in this rewarding experi- ence, sign up online at villapar-
marinethanksgiving.org.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 VP readies
• Parent
information visit
www.smartvoter.org/vote/kathy_moffat PROVEN LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE
• PTA Leader Civic Leader
• Former Teacher •
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