Letters to the Editor: Mesa Water touts itself as efficient yet considers sizable rate hike anyway

Re. “Mesa Water District considers hiking rates by 5% a year for the next 5 years, starting in 2018,” (Aug. 25): So, Mesa Water’s board members voted unanimously to move forward to raise rates 5% a year for five years? A 25% rate increase over five years? Really? Are we talking gasoline or water here? And this from the same board that voted itself a 10% pay increase last April and has spent significant sums of ratepayer money on studies and PR campaigns to convince voters that a Mesa Water takeover of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District would be a great idea to save lots of money.

During the last election, Mesa Water promised that its takeover of the Sanitary District would result in big one-time rebates to ratepayers and ongoing operating cost reductions. Guess we can kiss those rebates goodbye, as that money will go right back to Mesa Water as rates skyrocket.

Mesa Water’s board says the rates must go up due to lower revenues resulting from drought conservation efforts. These guys appear to be rather poor at developing five-year business plans. Truly, they could not see the revenue drops coming over the course of a record-breaking five-year drought?

I think they need to return the 10% pay increase. They have not earned it. They are always quick to tout their AAA credit rating and take every opportunity to bash the board of the Sanitary District. But the Sanitary District is debt-free and is prudently planning for the future (as evidenced by the companion article in the same Daily Pilot edition, “Sanitary District to expand its yard”). Mesa Water has some explaining to do at its public hearing Nov. 9.

Jon Rowe

Costa Mesa

Peotter’s gas-tax argument lacks logic

Re. “Commentary: Newport Beach rejected gas tax revenue on principle and hope of repeal,” Aug. 24): Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter’s explanation for refusing the $480,000 in transportation funds makes no sense. He posits that taking the money would somehow deprive the council of its “principled” standing to support a repeal of the gas tax.

The one has nothing to do with the other. Councilman Peotter, you can do both. If you had money fall through a hole in your pocket, you can pick it up, and repair the hole. You wouldn’t leave the money on the ground for someone else to pick up. And you’d still be free to sew up your pant pocket.

Ralph Sims

Newport Beach

Editor’s note: Councilman Peotter and the City Council reversed its decision on the gas tax Thursday evening, after the Daily Pilot received this and the following letter.

Gas tax vote was a ‘cop-out’

Here we go again. Last time it was developers over constituents, now it’s “principle politics” over constituents. The one thing that comes through consistently is Councilman Scott Peotter’s inability to set aside personal ideology and do his job on the City Council for the people he serves. Rather than bring in millions to improve MacArthur Boulevard and the roads where we drive every day, to create jobs while doing it, he (as well as “Team Newport,” it appears) would sacrifice our quality of life to “send a message” to Sacramento.

Peotter’s comment that it is “anathema for a big government advocate to understand ...” illustrates that only he knows why he would rob the residents in Newport Beach of their tax revenue. Disrespectfully calling those who disagree with him “big government” liberals is a total cop-out.

Gail Kalscheur

Newport Beach

How to get published: Email us at dailypilot@latimes.com. All correspondence must include full name, hometown and phone number (for verification purposes). The Pilot reserves the right to edit all submissions for clarity and length.