**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the link for the board package for our Regular Helix Water District Board Meeting: 
AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 6pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
What a difference a new board makes!

• The draft budget meetings and discussions went very well! It was two long nights, total 9 hours, great discussion and debate and after my many years of asking - we finally had the budget discussed before water rates!
  
• As I mentioned in the last email, the proposed budgets for Water Quality, Operations and Engineering Departments were all BELOW last year’s budget! We continued the next day and went over the CIP and Administration budgets.
• The Administration budget only went up 0.3%, which was mainly due to the addition of a few things the board wanted, mainly a comprehensive salary study (to prepare for the next MOU) and Strategic Plan Update, Lake Jennings Reserve.
  
• The Capital Improvement Budget was increased  9.6%, which there are many projects that are carry over from the year before, so perhaps some projects may be extended out.
• However, without any changes the overall budget proposed was to increase 1.8%.
• Now the question is how will this affect the water rates which is being discussed on Wednesday!

 
ITEM 6: Five Year Projection Board Workshop (pdf Page 87)
The board review the five year projection scenarios and provide guidance to staff for updating the preliminary draft fiscal year 2017-18 water rates.

• Proposed Baseline Helix WD Budget increases water rates 1.8%
• Proposed San Diego County Water Authority Budget increases Helix water rates 2.4%.

 

• Proposed Total Water Rate Increase of 4.1% to the average Helix customer who uses 18 units ($2.68 increase per month).
•  SIGNIFICANTLY less than the previously October 2015 proposed 11.8%.
• There are some other proposed scenarios (see table below), but, the rates adjustments just push the cost to the following years, not actual cuts. Which I think to decrease the rates we need to look at the proposed Budget and make some adjustments, and since we are familiar with what has been proposed, we can do that on Wednesday! Also, I do not believe in raising rates to replenish the rate stabilization fund $2,036,275 in year 2019/20.

 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. 
 
Please feel free to forward this blog.
 
Per the request of the Helix Water District Board on May 16, 2012, the following language is to be added by all Board Directors in all outgoing Director correspondence. "This correspondence, and any documents attached hereto, reflects the individual opinions and positions of the above-named Director and does not represent the opinions or positions of the District's Board of Directors or the District.  Pursuant to Section 9.1-11(A) of the Helix Water District Policies and Procedures Manual, individual Directors, except as otherwise authorized by the Board, shall have no power to act for the District or the District's Board of Directors."
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

**
Dear Friends: 
Here is the link for the board package for our Budget Workshop for the Helix Water District Board Meeting:

 AGENDA
BUDGET WORKSHOP OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 – 4pm
Continuation…Thursday, May 4, 2017 – 4pm
7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942-0427
 
 Hello, as you may have noticed things have been quiet on getting out my blog/emails. This has been due to a combination of things:

• First and foremost - things are pretty great at Helix! This new board has really been busy, creating standing committees (a first for Helix, meetings will begin in July), Board Retreat discussing board and general manager relations and directions, and looking at new ways to do things (Budget & Water Rates).
  
• Spring Break with a Board Meeting cancelled.
• And my new position on the San Diego County Water Board, learning the new District and Administration (I am on the Finance, Water Planning and Conservation Action Committees).
• Please Note: If there was any concerns, I would have definitely got something out...
  

 
So, now back to Helix Water District Meeting on Wednesday - 2017/2018 Budget. This year we are looking at a draft first hand before we discuss water rates, so we can see what is needed or can adjust and we do not make this budget official after looking at it this first time (something I have been asking for a long time).
 
We want to give plenty of time to discuss and look at each item.
 The budget presentations are as follows:
 • Introduction and Overview
• Water Quality/System Operations Budget
• Operations Budget
• Engineering Budget
• Administrative Services Budget
• Capital Budget
 
Here is the future budget/water rate meeting schedules:
 
May17 - Five Year Financial Projection Workshop
June 6 - Distribute to Board Preliminary Budget Document
June 13 - Board Approval of Preliminary Fiscal Year 2017-18 Budget
August 2 - Proposed Fiscal Year 2017-18 Water Rates
August 16 - Board Approval of Fiscal Year 2017-18 Water Rates (tentative)

Unfortunately, the one thing that is missing in the draft budget is an estimated end of the year amount, it is only budget to budget, so, I have gone to the last monthly treasury statement (through March 31) and comparing those numbers and seeing where they are at, under or over budget.
 
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.
 
Blog is on my website of past meetings & comments…check it out!
Please feel free to forward this email.
 
Kathleen Coates Hedberg, PE, MPH
Vice President, Helix Water District Board
11263 Explorer Road
La Mesa, CA  91941
H619.660.7487
 
Per the request of the Helix Water District Board on May 16, 2012, the following language is to be added by all Board Directors in all outgoing Director correspondence. "This correspondence, and any documents attached hereto, reflects the individual opinions and positions of the above-named Director and does not represent the opinions or positions of the District's Board of Directors or the District.  Pursuant to Section 9.1-11(A) of the Helix Water District Policies and Procedures Manual, individual Directors, except as otherwise authorized by the Board, shall have no power to act for the District or the District's Board of Directors."
 
**Please note no public funds or resources were used for the distribution of this email...
***If you want to be removed from my list…let me know! J
****If this email was forwarded to you and you want to be added to my list…let me know!
*****Transparency, don’t just say it – do it!