Commentary: Merging water, sanitation districts would save ratepayers money

Mesa Water District and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District should consolidate to reduce the size and cost of local government.

As a Mesa Water director who serves on the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), I want to ensure that our community has the facts about Measure TT and accurate information about how public agency consolidation works.

Measure TT was put on the Nov. 8 ballot after a study by Arcadis U.S. Inc. showed that combining Mesa Water with the sanitary district could result in a one-time, up-front cost savings of $15.6 million and annual savings of $2.7 million. The savings are real and substantial.

If consolidation occurs, Mesa Water plans to pass the savings on to you, our ratepayers, as an immediate rebate of up to $650 per customer and by reducing your sewer rates up to 28%.

As a non-binding advisory measure, the purpose of Measure TT is to get the public’s feedback on whether Mesa Water and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) should pursue consolidation.

Why not pursue consolidation to achieve potential cost-savings and benefits for customers?

Public agency consolidation is a common process performed in the public’s best interest to ensure local representation and the provision of high-quality, transparent government services at the lowest possible cost.

In almost all cases throughout Orange County, public water and sewer services are combined and provided by one local government agency. Mesa Water and the sanitary district share an almost overlapping service area and it would be irresponsible to ignore the possible efficiencies of combining water, sewer and trash collection services under one financially strong public agency.

Some CMSD directors have spoken out against Measure TT and claim it is a hostile takeover attempt and a power grab by Mesa Water. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Only OC LAFCO has the legal authority to consolidate public agencies, and only after it conducts an extensive study and public hearing process. If Measure TT passes, it simply shows strong public support for a comprehensive study — similar to the study by Arcadis — that could be initiated by LAFCO.

The commission would look at both districts’ most current independently audited financial information and other data as part of a broad, deep study that is required before consolidation could occur.

Is the sanitary district trying to preserve its political positions? We deserve better from our CMSD board members and an explanation as to why they would not support an advisory vote that simply seeks guidance from the voters who are customers of both agencies.

The choice is up to you: do we pursue consolidation to reduce the size and cost of local government, resulting in millions of dollars of cost-savings and more efficient services, or do we maintain the status quo?

For more information about Measure TT and the Special Districts Shared Efficiencies project, visit MesaWater.org/SDSE.

JAMES R. FISLER serves as a Mesa Water District director and on the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission.