Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved a rate increase in the Amador Water System last week, and set about trying to cut the agency budget by another $200,000 in salary and benefits. General Manager Gene Mancebo said “the board did approve the 4 percent rate increase for the Amador Water System.” He said “this is something that was not fully implemented a year ago.” The agency had approved a 12 percent increase, but during budget work decided to make only an 8 percent increase. Mancebo said Friday that “the board was simply implementing the balance of a rate increase that was not done at that time.” Mancebo said the board must now get together with employees and brainstorm on ways to find additional cost savings, by a minimum of $200,000. Mancebo said the 4 percent increase could generate $169,000 in the AWS, which already had significant cuts, with the only thing left to cut being salaries and benefits. Vice President Debbie Dunn and President Bill Condrashoff urged not increasing the AWS rates. Dunn suggested furloughs “closing the agency once a week.” Condrashoff sided with Jackson Councilman Keith Sweet, who in a letter said AWS was not getting specific benefits from the increase. Dunn said AWS has a “ton of money” but the board put it in other systems, and that was “not a reason to raise rates.” Condrashoff thought it was “illegal” without a nexus study. Director Terence Moore said the rate increase was a month overdue, and he was tired of hearing that they were “raising AWS rates to support other systems.” He said the 12 percent increase approved for last year was lowered too much by the board, and it was found at the end of the year that it “did not meet the debt ratio” for AWS. Without the increase, Moore said $140,000 in cuts would still be needed, or the equivalent of 4 full-time jobs. Director Don Cooper said they are definitely in a “price-cost squeeze,” and he urged getting citizens, employees and the AWA board to look at the budget as a committee. Mancebo said all employee bargaining units and managers were prepared to discuss the cuts needed, if the agency board showed its support with the 4 percent increase in the AWS. The agency workforce has been reduced by 20 employees in 2 years, including 11 field workers. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010 06:27
AWA Approves a 4 Percent Rate Increase in the Amador Water System
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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved a rate increase in the Amador Water System last week, and set about trying to cut the agency budget by another $200,000 in salary and benefits. General Manager Gene Mancebo said “the board did approve the 4 percent rate increase for the Amador Water System.” He said “this is something that was not fully implemented a year ago.” The agency had approved a 12 percent increase, but during budget work decided to make only an 8 percent increase. Mancebo said Friday that “the board was simply implementing the balance of a rate increase that was not done at that time.” Mancebo said the board must now get together with employees and brainstorm on ways to find additional cost savings, by a minimum of $200,000. Mancebo said the 4 percent increase could generate $169,000 in the AWS, which already had significant cuts, with the only thing left to cut being salaries and benefits. Vice President Debbie Dunn and President Bill Condrashoff urged not increasing the AWS rates. Dunn suggested furloughs “closing the agency once a week.” Condrashoff sided with Jackson Councilman Keith Sweet, who in a letter said AWS was not getting specific benefits from the increase. Dunn said AWS has a “ton of money” but the board put it in other systems, and that was “not a reason to raise rates.” Condrashoff thought it was “illegal” without a nexus study. Director Terence Moore said the rate increase was a month overdue, and he was tired of hearing that they were “raising AWS rates to support other systems.” He said the 12 percent increase approved for last year was lowered too much by the board, and it was found at the end of the year that it “did not meet the debt ratio” for AWS. Without the increase, Moore said $140,000 in cuts would still be needed, or the equivalent of 4 full-time jobs. Director Don Cooper said they are definitely in a “price-cost squeeze,” and he urged getting citizens, employees and the AWA board to look at the budget as a committee. Mancebo said all employee bargaining units and managers were prepared to discuss the cuts needed, if the agency board showed its support with the 4 percent increase in the AWS. The agency workforce has been reduced by 20 employees in 2 years, including 11 field workers. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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