by Jacqui Krizo, Klamath Courier Reporter, 1/11/06
TULELAKE – Tulelake Irrigation District rate-hike election last Friday
resulted in a "yes" decision to allow TID to increase O&M
operation and maintenance fees for landowners.
30 people attended the third and final meeting held at the Tulelake
fairgrounds last Friday. District Manager Earl Danosky and board members
explained the district’s fees and expenses and reasons that the TID board
needs the flexibility to adjust O&M rates to cover costs.
The Irrigation District sent certified letters to all of the district’s 360 landowners to inform them of their options regarding the election. Each acre of land carries 114 votes. There were 2,452,362.3 "yes" votes and 1,280,932.5 "no" votes.
TID was faced with a dilemma last fall because they were operating in the
red. California’s Proposition 218 requires landowner approval prior to any
increase of O&M assessments. The election cost more than $70,000. It was
mandatory that the district hire engineers to do a report regarding the
district O&M services and rates..
MBK Engineer’s Report assessed special benefits provided by TID which
include "delivery of water, flood control and drainage, and protection of
water rights and other matters. The amounts of assessment must be proportional
to the special benefit conferred."
Besides providing irrigation water to landowners within the district, many
expenses have evolved in recent years. There is a possibility of a maximum
power rate increase of 2600 percent in 2006. The water adjudication process
costs $200,000 per year. Tens of thousands of dollars are being spent annually
on regulatory issues, including the takings case, legal representation in ESA
issues, and other litigation defending the irrigators’ rights to their
deeded, stored irrigation water.
The public is welcomed to attend TID board meetings every 2nd Monday of each month at 8 p.m. to give input or ask questions regarding their services.
Since the irrigation districts have not been informed of next year’s
power rate, farm loans and crop plans are on hold. Alternate energy sources
were discussed.
The district must pump water out of the basin into Lower Klamath Refuge so
Tulelake basin does not turn into Tule Lake again. Since the irrigators are
held responsible for paying the expenses for pumping water for Fish and
Wildlife Service into refuges, the landowners discussed ways to reroute and
dispose of these return flows to avoid the costly service.
Had the district voted "no", the alternative to a rate hike would
have been purchasing and installing water meters, or fees based on crop types,
which would have been more expensive for the landowners than O&M
increases.
Because of the "yes" vote for rate flexibility, the district will be
able to continue serving the farm community with the lesser expense.