LETTER WRITERS TO DECIDE ABOUT WATER RATE HIKE MAIL FROM PROPERTY OWNERS COULD BLOCK PROPOSAL.Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- A proposed water rate hike for 27,500 Santa Clarita customers could be approved next month -- unless a groundswell ground·swell n. 1. A sudden gathering of force, as of public opinion: a groundswell of antiwar sentiment. 2. of protest blocks it. The Santa Clarita Water Division would increase rates over three years by an average of 35 percent for residential customers and 37 percent for businesses. Castaic Lake Castaic Lake is a lake on Castaic Creek formed by Castaic Dam, in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic. The 323,700 acre foot lake (399,000,000 m³) is the terminus of the West Branch of the California Aqueduct, though some comes from the 154 mi² Water Agency officials say the retail division faces rising operating and capital costs. But because of a ballot measure approved by voters in 1996 and subsequently applied to water providers by the state Supreme Court, the proposed rate increase could be blocked if owners of more than half the affected property protest it. ``Customers are calling in and stopping by,'' said John Garon, assistant retail manager for the Santa Clarita Water Division. ``There are quite a few who say they understand the reason for the increase, and they're they're Contraction of they are. they're be not protesting it.'' The division has received about 25 letters regarding the proposed rate increase, and some of those are in support, Garon said. The agency board is scheduled to vote Feb. 14 on the rate hike. Bruce Bruce, Scottish royal family descended from an 11th-century Norman duke, Robert de Brus. He aided William I in his conquest of England (1066) and was given lands in England. McFarland McFarland may refer to: In places:
``It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have a significant rate increase,'' McFarland said. ``And if we don't have to pay it and if all it takes is just writing these letters, why not do it?'' The rate increase would generate $2.7 million in 2007, $5.3 million in 2008 and $6.6 million in 2009, analysts say. The money would help fund a number of projects. They include upgrading water wells drilled decades ago and putting water mainlines in the street instead of on parkways so tree roots don't damage them. ``There's a false impression out there that those capital needs are somehow related to growth, and they have nothing to do with growth,'' Garon said. alex.dobuzinskis@dailynews.com (661) 257-5253 |
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