June 8, 2005 - Top Stories
The VC Municipal Water District Monday adopted an operating budget of $36,189,818, which is 4.8% larger than last year’s.
Although having one of the largest water budgets in the County, VC’s water district still maintains some of the lowest water rates.
Valley Center’s agricultural rate, $1.1257/hundred cubit feet is second lowest overall (second only to Fallbrook Public Utilities District at .8602 - FPUD is significantly lower because it does not pay the SDCWA Transportation Rate due to their aqueduct connections actually being on MWD lines and not the SDCWA lines) and lower than Yuima Municipal Water District’s (which has local supply) at $1.1878/HCF. Vallecitos’ ag rate is 1.2400/HCF.
Valley Center’s domestic rate is fourth lowest overall, but second lowest to agencies with 100% imported water and paying both the full MWD and SDCWA wholesale rates.
The lowest in that group is Rainbow Municipal Water District at $1.4900/hundred cubic feet vs. VCMWD at $1.4954(or 1/2 cent per HCF higher).
Most of Rainbow’s customers are exempt from the SDCWA Transportation rates for the same reason related to FPUD wholesale costs being lower than VCMWD
The VC water district is estimating it will buy 47,350 acre feet in the coming year. Of course the actual amount sold will be determined by how much or little rainfall there is. Last year’s budget had anticipated the same amount of water purchase, but it turned out to be much lower (by 22%) because of the winter’s record rainfall.
Budget Expenditures
More than half of the district’s budget, $20,585,000 is spent on buying water. Another $4.9 million is budgeted for energy costs, which are 16.3% higher than last year.
Personnel will account for another $6,182,200 this year, which is slightly less than was budgeted last year.
Costs controlled by the district include $1,005,159 for general administration, $1,601,462 for finance, $1,124,707 for engineering and $5,738,913 for field operations.
Several factors will drive how much customers pay for water:
The Metropolitan Water District, the big agency that delivers imported water to all of Southern California, plans to increase its delivery charge 2.3% beginning in 2006. The San Diego County Water Authority, which buys water from the MWD and sells it to agencies such as Valley Center MWD, plays to increase its Customer Service Charge by 5.8% and its emergency Storage Charge by 24.7% in 2006. The SDCWA also charges a “melded rate supply cost” for water that it receives from the Imperial Valley. That rate is increasing from $18 per acre foot this year to $32 AF in 2006.
All of these costs from its supplies are charged by VC water district to its customers on their bills.
In addition, the cost that the district adds to the water rate is $80.46 per AF beginning in 2006 plus $13.40 to make up for revenue lost when the State of California confiscated property taxes from special districts to balance its budget.
The district is project that 38,1117 AF will be purchased for agricultural, which is sold at a lower rate than domestic water.
In 2004-2005 the Interim Agricultural Water Program (IAWP) saved ag customers about $3.2 million in discounted water prices. In return for cheaper prices, ag customers agree to having their supplies cut in time of drought.
VCHS graduation is coming June 17.
The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Jaguar Stadium. The school is bringing in additional chairs to add seating on the football field to raise the seating capacity of the stadium. There will be no reserved seating; however, gates will be opened at 6 p.m.
Each graduate will receive ten tickets for admission to the commencement exercises. Tickets will be distributed to the graduates after senior checkout on June 15. Due to the number of graduates, groups are limited to ten so that all students can have their guests attend. The school will attempt to make additional tickets available to seniors and their guests, if there are extenuating circumstances that require additional seats.
As in previous years, the school anticipates that parking will be a challenge the night of graduation. Attendees are being asked to carpool with your guests or take a shuttle from the parking lot at the Lower School to the high school.
The school is also asking parents and guests to refrain from bringing noisemakers or other items that might be distracting.
All seniors will be required to attend graduation practice daily.
The grads are asked to dress appropriately for the ceremony. Young women are asked to wear a dress or slacks and blouse with nice shoes they can walk in. Young men are asked to wear slacks, shirt and tie, and dress shoes.
Josten's will take individual pictures of each graduate as they receive their diploma. Information on pictures will be distributed to graduates during graduation practice. If you plan to take your own pictures, please do not block the view of others. Also, this year the VCHS Digital Media Department will produce Grad 05, a four disc DVD set that will be available for purchase as well.
The Civic Beautification Committee of the Dos Valles Garden Club has selected eleven finalists this year for Civic Beautification Awards along Cole Grade, Lilac, Valley Center and North Lake Wohlford Roads.
The finalists are Fat Ivor’s, PVI, Family Dentistry, Community Hall, Jags/Reveles Restaurants, Medical Professional Buildings, Old Town Center, Grangetto’s, New Catholic Church, Horakh Nursery, and the Sheriff’s Substation.
Members of the committee suggest that you notice when you drive by how much the landscaping and new construction add to the attractiveness of the Valley Center business and commercial thoroughfare.
Last year Light of the Valley Lutheran Church and Bates Nut Farm were the top winners of the Beautification Awards.
The committee (Dick Kraus, Art Weller, Maggie Ferber and Don Schloat) say they had much difficulty deciding which places should be listed, because so many were worthy of consideration.
Harder still will be choosing two winners to be honored at the Dos Valles Garden Club picnic at Adams Park on June 14.
In a ceremony following the barbecue, the two finalists will be honored with a plaque and sign to place in front of their property stating “Valley Center and the Garden Club express their sincere appreciation for the efforts of all who keep our town beautiful.”
At one time it looked as though the Pauma Valley Community Assn. would have to close its doors and possibly sell off its property to pay its debts.
How the association dug itself out of its hole was largely a matter of hard work, dedication, and in some ways, a bit of a miracle.
Two years ago the association, which runs the Pauma Community Building and 19 acres, was on the ropes. It had lost its tax-exempt status and owed $22,000 in back property taxes going back to 1998-99.
Then a group of residents in Pauma stood up and demanded that the old board relinquish its control to a new, completely different board. The new board was elected in a town hall style meeting attended by many members of the community.
All of the records that existed for the hall were contained in a cardboard box and three paper bags. These were turned over to the new board.
The association had some assets: the land, obviously, and some artworks that might someday bring in money. According to John Westwater, who was the treasurer of the organization until early this year, in those dark days the board looked at all sorts of dire solutions, such as selling off parts or all of the 19 acres.
Slowly, things began to change.
Then in a series of meetings the board was pleasantly surprised to find out just how many people in Pauma were interested in saving the old hall and keeping it running.
The hall did have some revenues: including several hundred dollars a month rent from the Neighborhood Health Clinic and the Four-Square Church.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get by if something could be done about the $22,000 in property taxes that had been allowed to accumulate by the previous board.
That did seem to be an insurmountable problem. But the board hunkered down to wrestle with that debt.
The first year they “limped along,” according to the current president, Sue Stockton. The rent was enough to pay the small bills such as electrical and water bills, but not enough to do anything about the back property taxes. And the County was getting anxious to collect the money.
The board made the first of two appeals to the community for help. This first appeal, made in February of 2004, brought in $5,500. Most of the donations were small. Some were $50s and $100s.
Another appeal was made at the beginning of this year. It brought in almost $10,000 and included $1000 from the Pala Band of Mission Indians and another $1000 from Pala Chairman Robert Smith.
Between rents and the donations the association now had enough money to buy the liability insurance that it needed before it could advertise the hall as available to rent out to the community.
But they wouldn’t be able to do that if the County carried out its threat to put the property on the block and sell it for back taxes. This was scheduled to be done on January of this year.
Through Supervisor Bill Horn the association approached the County to see if something could be done about lowering the property taxes, which had been accumulating since the association had lost its tax exempt status.
Horn was very helpful, but said that he couldn’t ask the County to simply “forgive” the tax bill. He also wouldn’t agree to give the association money from his discretionary funds.
He did call the head of the tax section at the County Assessor and Tax Collector’s Office, Brian Salmon, and asked him to work with the association and help them as much as possible.
But the County could do nothing for them until they reactivated their tax exempt status.
In the meantime the date of the tax sale was almost upon them. Because of Horn’s good offices, they were able to get an extension, which is very rare.
In March the tax exempt status was renewed, and then good things began to happen.
The County was willing to calculate the back taxes as if the 501 (c)(3) status had never been lost.
Suddenly the association owed about $3,500, an amount they were able to deal with.
“It all shook out in a way that was totally favorable,” says Nancy Rick, another current board member.
“It truly is a gift,” agrees Mrs. Stockston.
“Everyone in the department was helpful,” recalls Westwater. “I was very impressed. I couldn’t believe that government would treat us so well.”
The good news was shared with the members of the assocation at their annual meeting in April.
There would not be a tax sale after all.
“Now we are open for business, so to speak,” says Mrs. Stockton.”We’re ready to go. It’s going to be a truly family friendly place.”
Groups can rent thhe hall for $25 a year. It is available for private parties, weddings and meetings. To reserve it, call Nancy Plascensia at 760-855-8556
An anoymous donor has given the association the gift of a soccer field. The field will be installed in time to be used this summer. It is large enough for a pro team or two youth teams. It will be available for public use.
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Anyone who lives in Pauma Valley is eligible to join the Pauma Valley Community Assn. Dues are $25 for individuals, $35 for families and $500 for “be an angel” memberships.
You can help support the association by buying a “Scenic Pauma Valley” license plate. They are available for $15 at the Lazy H. Restaurant.
Regular meetings are held at the community center every second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
This year’s newly elected officers are Sue Stockton, president; Fritz Stumpges, vice president; Jack Hall, treasurer; Nancy Barrett, secretary and board members Nancy Rick, Marilyn Woods, Mil Krecu, Bob Wheelock and Dr. Paul Ward.
The Community Center is located at 16650 Hwy 76 on the hill above the Neighborhood Health Center.
The Valley Roadrunner
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Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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