3 Cities’ Water Prices Could Rise by 80% : Utilities: Problems may also be compounded for 500 farmers as the MWD considers higher rates to meet a $350-million shortfall.

Residents of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark could face up to 80% increases in water costs, raising an average monthly bill from $25 to $45 under a Metropolitan Water District proposal.

But people in Oxnard and Camarillo, who receive only a portion of their water from the giant Los Angeles-based district, are likely to see increases of only a few dollars a month on a typical $20 charge, water officials said.

The rate of increase has not yet been decided by MWD directors, who met this week for an annual retreat at Lake Arrowhead in the mountains above San Bernardino. But prices will surely rise, and probably in the range of 40% to 78%, said Robert Gomperz, MWD spokesman.

The MWD, which serves nearly 17 million people in Southern California, is considering increasing water prices and property taxes and cutting expenses and construction projects to meet a projected $350-million budget shortfall.

The board represents 27 water agencies from Ventura County to San Diego, as well as municipal and regional water departments.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re in a five-year drought that happens to coincide with the third year of a recession,” Gomperz said. “It’s a real double whammy for the customers.”

Problems could be compounded for about 500 Ventura County farmers in the Santa Rosa Valley and other unincorporated areas that also depend in full or in part on MWD water for their crops and livelihoods.

Many of those farmers already have been stung by drought-depleted ground water supplies and devastating crop losses from the December freeze.

“Inasmuch as we can, we will pass as much of the costs along to the consumer,” said Robert Brokaw, whose family farms and owns a Saticoy nursery business. “Or we’ll just shrivel up because it won’t be economically viable for us to produce agriculture in Ventura County.”

In addition to proposed water rate increases, MWD directors are considering a hike in property taxes. The district now charges a fraction of a percent in property taxes to residents within the district. Under some staff proposals, the property tax increase would amount to about $4 a year on a $200,000 home. Increases are not expected before March.

The MWD directors also discussed assessing a fee on every undeveloped parcel of land within district boundaries that does not already receive district water, Gomperz said.

The proposed MWD revenue increases are necessary to build new dams, reservoirs and pipelines needed to serve the constantly growing district, officials said. But the increases are also being driven by the rising cost of water, including purchases from the so-called water bank formed during the drought, Gomperz said.

The district increased rates on an acre-foot--sufficient to supply a family of five for a year--from $197 to $222 in July. Before that 13% hike, prices had not been raised since 1983.

But the July increase should have been higher to cover costs, said Patrick Miller, who represents Ventura County on the 51-member MWD board.

“We’re selling water cheaper than it’s costing us,” he said.

The district also is considering cutting its proposed $8.7-billion construction program to decrease expenses. Although officials said all of the projects proposed in the construction program are under review, Miller said a $330-million project to increase the reliability of supply to Ventura County should go forward about the year 2000.

“If something were to happen to that line over the Santa Susana Pass, three-quarters of the people in Ventura County would feel it,” he said, referring to the MWD pipeline into the county. “MWD realizes there is a weakness there.”

Simi Valley Mayor Gregory Stratton said his city would not support a fee increase if it were assessed to pay for pipelines and dams to serve new customers in the district. But, he said, if the increase is necessary to keep a steady supply of water coming into the county, the city will accept and support the fee increase.

“What choice do we have?” he asked.

Moorpark Mayor Paul W. Lawrason said he opposes tax increases to pay for water costs. He prefers higher water rates.

The rising cost of water serves to emphasize the need to conserve, said James Hubert, manager of the Calleguas Municipal Water District. Calleguas pipelines distribute MWD water in Ventura County. All new and existing homes should be required to have water-conserving bathroom fixtures he said.

“From now on, you’re looking at water conservation as a way of life in Southern California,” he said.

Times staff writer Rich Connell and correspondent Caitlin Rother contributed to this story.