The San Diego County Local Area Formation Commission took a major step Monday toward allowing two rural water districts to leave the jurisdiction of the county Water Authority -- by leaving the matter in the hands of the voters.
The move was a result of two public meetings -- the first was held June 5 and public comment and discussion carried over to Monday -- and will allow ratepayers in the Fallbrook Public Utility District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District to decide in an election whether to stay in the county water authority or leave and begin purchasing water from the Eastern Municipal Water District.
"We are grateful to the LAFCO commissioners for their support of our effort to change water suppliers, which will bring much-needed relief to our ratepayers, including our agricultural users, who have been burdened for years by skyrocketing water costs from the County Water Authority," said Jack Bebee, general manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District.Get San Diego local news, weather forecasts, sports and lifestyle stories to your inbox.
"Today's unprecedented decision by San Diego LAFCO is very disappointing because it will raise water rates for disadvantaged communities, working families, 70% of agriculture in the county, small businesses and everyone else across our region," said Mel Katz, chair of the San Diego County Water Authority's Board of Directors.
"It's also clear that LAFCO failed to study the environmental impacts of its decision, as required by state law -- a serious breach of public confidence in a system that's supposed to protect us all," Katz said.
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