Not All Sewer Rates Increasing

In response to the April 29 article “Steep Increases in Sewer Rates Proposed”:

Not all sewer districts are increasing their rates. The Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District (formerly the Los Alamitos County Water District) is a regional sewer district that transports sewage through a network of pipelines to the treatment plants managed by the Sanitation Districts of Orange County.

Local taxpayers see on their property tax bills a charge by the Sanitation Districts of Orange County, District 3. The Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District does not appear on the tax bill. Our board of directors continues to use local property taxes (basic levy) and interest income to manage and pay for this sewer distribution service. We have maintained the lowest cost for service in Orange County for 45 years.

ARLYSS M. BURKETT

Board of Directors

Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District

* The funneling of water district fees into municipal general services budgets includes a concern not mentioned in your article: the payments from the large numbers of homes in unincorporated areas.

An example is North Tustin, which is served by the Tustin Water Service. Residents in that area are neither represented on the City Council nor served by the city but are paying into the Tustin general fund with a portion of their water bills.

NANCY BAKER

Santa Ana