Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Southern California Category
Click here to view all posts

Palmdale Water District: First the Storm, next the red ink flood, says editorial

Posted by: Maven on June 23, 2009 at 6:54 am

From the Antelope Valley Press:

Randy Hill, the general manager of the Palmdale Water District, is upset that information about doings in the district are being leaked to the press. Being upset is natural. Staying angry won’t help the fix the district is in.

A Valley Press reporter was leaked an internal memo that described the district’s sinking finances. Instead of obtaining a bond issue to spread payments for district improvements over 30 years, the district operated with cash in hand until it became apparent that layoffs, furloughs, and other budget cuts would be needed to forestall a potential bankruptcy.

In conjunction with that, the district was planning its largest rate increase ever, with some customers’ bills expected to more than double. Why? Because of the water district’s dire straits.

The manager was furious about publication of the memo. Understandable. Few government functionaries like to see their options and strategems laid out before they choose to air them.

Over at the newspaper, a different weighing test is employed. It is not whether someone, official or elected, will be angry over publication. This isn’t national security. This is an explanation of how and why so many people in Palmdale are getting their water rates jacked up – particularly in a time of severely stressed economy.

The manager wanted to know why that news couldn’t wait. The answer is because news is news when it is new. And people expect new information, accurate information, truthful information – whether it comes from testimony from the dais, or in an option paper of high interest to an interested public.

Read more of this editorial from the Antelope Valley Press by clicking here.

June 23, 2009 · Filed Under Southern California

Comments

Leave a Reply