Harry Norris should have another term as our EID Division 5 Director unless Alan Day, his only opponent, can tell us very specifically
what he can do better. Harry Norris' record continues to focus on reality and responsibility to ratepayers. Elected in November
2003, he joined the EID board in 2004. Its planning in that year was still
guided by need to accommodate record high
growth in El Dorado Hills. Also in 2004, growth began to drop, finally
plummeting to effectively zero in 2009 throughout the county.
His opponent, Alan Day, has presented arguments about spending, debt, and rates that depend on EID business before 2004,
when Al Vargas represented Division 5. One of the recurring problems in
candidate Day's statements is his implicit suggestion that Harry Norris
is culpable for EID actions over "the past 8 years". That includes year
2003, when Al Vargas -- not Harry Norris -- represented Division 5.
In
spending, Harry Norris and the current board have cut $202 million out of the
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) just since 2009. They variously arrested
and deferred plans for major capacity expansion at the EDH Water
Treatment Plant, the two west-county wastewater treatment plants, and
related infrastructure. EID also reduced operating costs, cutting
employment by 79 from its record high of 305 in 2007 to 226, its lowest
level since 2002.
Alan Day considers excess capacity a sign of
excess spending. That was partly right when population growth began to
drop, but the cause was the rapid change in growth. EID adjusted,
but capacity grew in 2009 and 2010 due to major decrease in demand
for water: Two years of exceptionally cool and wet weather
dropped 2010 water deliveries to their lowest level since some year
before 1990. That revenue loss is partly offset by increased
hydroelectric generation from Project 184, which produced $8 million in
2010.
While Harry Norris has been on the board, 2004-2011, debt
has grown 49%. This is well below the 200% (tripling) that Alan Day
said of the last 8 years, 2003-2011.
Alan Day said EID
Water rates have nearly doubled in 8 years, for a 100% increase. EID's
own one-number citation is 78%, but drilling down to residential rates
in Harry Norris' term, 2004-2011, shows less. At 4,000 cubic feet
per 2-month billing period, just over my own peak summer use, the
increase is 61%. 2,000 cubic feet is up 37%, my winter consumption of
1,000 cubic feet had only a 19.9% increase.
EID's water rates
were the lowest in the Sacramento region until the 2010 increases. Now
EID is the 3rd lowest among 14 water providers
surveyed. My actual 2011 peak summer water consumption would cost 65%
more in Placerville.
Alan
Day says sewer bills are 50%+ higher than 8 years ago. Actually they're
97% higher than 8 years ago (2003), but only 75% higher for rates that
Harry Norris helped to set. My own 2011 EID sewer bills would be 47%
higher in the City of Placerville.
Harry Norris has demonstrated
exceptional knowledge, intelligence, and responsibility to his
constituents. This is what EID needs in these times of economic stress.