What the Capital Plan Means for Water Rates

Zone 7's newly adopted Capital Improvement Plan totals $874.7 million over ten years — about 4% less than the previous plan. But there's a structural shift inside that number that matters for every ratepayer in the Tri-Valley.

$209 million moved from developer-funded accounts to ratepayer-funded accounts compared to the previous CIP. That means a larger share of the infrastructure bill is landing on existing residents and businesses, not on new development.

Add the Chain of Lakes Conveyance System at $17 million per year in new debt service ($9.1 million from ratepayer funds, $7.9 million from developer fees), plus the annual Asset Management Program at $16.3 million per year with inflation adjustments, and the rate math starts to stack.

Staff indicated that $13 million in water supply reliability funding "will be incorporated into upcoming rate discussions." That's the signal.

What I think ratepayers deserve

An honest, early conversation about what these investments cost. Not after the bonds are issued. Not buried in a staff report. A clear presentation of the rate trajectory that shows: here's what we're building, here's what it costs, here's what it means for your bill over the next five and ten years.

Zone 7's infrastructure investments are necessary. The aquifer needs protection. The flood channels need maintenance. PFAS needs treatment. Local supply needs redundancy.

The board's obligation to ratepayers is transparency about the cost. Every one of these projects competes for the same pool of money, and every dollar of debt service shows up on someone's water bill.

As a board-level fiscal officer with experience chairing a Finance Committee, this is the discipline I want to bring to Zone 7: ask the cost question early, answer it publicly, and make sure the community understands the tradeoffs before the board commits.