OJAI VALLEY : Board Raises Water Rates, Own Salaries

Bimonthly water bills will go up beginning July 1 for about 2,600 customers in the Ojai Valley and western Ventura.

The typical residential bimonthly bill of $27.14 will go up $2, said Ron Morse, auditor for the Casitas Municipal Water District. Rates will also go up for agricultural and commercial customers.

The district approved the rate increase Wednesday to cover rising operating costs and a drop in water usage.

Earlier this year, district officials had called for a 20% voluntary cutback on water consumption because of the four-year statewide drought. By the end of May, it appeared water sales had dropped by at least 17%, primarily because Ventura customers were using less water, said John Johnson, the district’s general manager.

Board members also gave themselves a pay increase of $6.08 for each day they meet to conduct district business. The raise increases their pay to $127.63 a day. State law allows board members compensation for up to 10 meeting days per month.

According to district records, Directors James Coultas and Al Aviles each earned $846 for attending meetings in May, not counting mileage and other expenses. Director Laurence Whelan received $591 and Director Marion Walker $483.

Wednesday, the board also adopted a $7-million budget for the 1990-91 fiscal year.