Folly to Raise Water Rates

I have been reading and hearing about Casitas Water District’s $1-million financial problem. Seems like Casitas’ water sales, particularly to the city of Ventura, are way down this year. This is adding substantially to Casitas’ money woes. Casitas could, if it chose, alleviate a goodly part of the $600,000-plus it is down in water sales by declaring it has a temporary water surplus and tempt the city of Ventura to buy a lot more than they have this year by declaring a temporary water rate reduction. Casitas would legally allow the city of Ventura to use this temporary water surplus with reduced rates in the city’s east end.

Just as in any other business, with a surplus of goods and a deficit of funds, they must have a fantastic once-a-year sale. To raise rates, as they have been talking about for some time, would be the height of folly.

GAIL HIGGINS

Ventura