ID No.1 Board of Trustees Votes to Defer Scheduled Water Rate Increase

News Bulletin

On December 15, 2020, the Board of Trustees of the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No.1 (District) voted to defer a five percent (5%) water rate increase that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2021. According to the Board’s decision, the scheduled rate increase will be deferred for six months and the matter will be revisited in June of 2021.
Jeff Clay, President of the District’s Board, said the following about the rate deferral: “One of our core responsibilities as a District and elected Board of Trustees is to ensure we have the financial means to carry out our mission of providing sufficient, reliable, high quality water supplies to all of our customers. While water rates are a critical factor in that equation, we also recognize that our customers have faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. Based on the District’s fiscal stability, deferring water rates seemed the right thing to do at this time.”
The District’s decision to postpone the scheduled rate increase is the second step this year in support of its customers. From March through October of 2020, the Board suspended all late penalties on accounts that were unable to pay on time due to financial hardship. “This is a community effort,” said Clay, “economically we need to plan and prepare for the future while keeping a close eye on the present.”
The District proudly serves potable water supplies for domestic, agricultural, commercial, and institutional needs within the communities of Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Ballard, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and the City of Solvang on a limited basis. The Board of Trustees is comprised of President Jeff Clay, Vice President Brad Joos, and Trustees Mike Burchardi, Lori Parker, and Jeff Holzer.
For more information about the District, please visit our website at www.syrwd.org. As always, all customers and members of the public are welcome to attend our monthly Board meetings (currently being held via video and teleconference) and may contact the District with any questions or concerns at (805) 688-6015. Wishing You and Yours a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!