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Podcast: Desert Oracle Radio
Episode:

Proposition 218 still protecting Californians from unauthorized water rate hikes
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2025-11-13 15:17:48
Description:

Proposition 218 requires that water agencies follow strict procedures in order to raise rates or fees. It also requires property owners to be notified and public hearings to be held so that a rise in rates or fees may be protested. Water agencies are not required to seek California voter approval but are still subject to the notice, public hearings and majority protest rules.

In order to balance their budgets, Special districts that provide water, like Bighorn Desert View Water Agency rely mainly on fees and rate hikes which are charged directly to the property owners or tenants who receive those services. The Agency is seeking to raise its rates and fees in 2026, and is taking the necessary steps to facilitate this process.

On September 9th 2025 during public workshop number three, the Bighorn Desert View Water Agency Board of Directors agreed to proceed with option 2 of the rate study presented to them which read “65% / 35% with 0% annual revenue increase projection in year 1 and 4.4% thereafter.”

A special meeting for Public Workshop number four was held on Tuesday November 4th at 4:00 p.m. so the Board of Directors could examine and discuss the Water rate study packet they were presented with. General Manager Marina West reminded the Board that prudent management of financial reserves was necessary in order to weather the occurrence of unexpected infrastructure failure from aging materials, earthquakes and other unforeseen events.

An additional public workshop will take place on Tuesday November 18th for further discussion, before proceeding to the formal Public hearing  concerning adoption of a new rate structure effective sometime in early 2026.

The post Proposition 218 still protecting Californians from unauthorized water rate hikes appeared first on Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree.
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