Selected article - Morning Star News.

 

What was not reported is the fact that staff recommended an additional $2 million for “Master Plan Capital”. My motion, seconded by Director Spiers, was to fund that $2 M from reserves and it was approved by the majority of Directors.

Here are the reasons:

    we do not have an approved Master Water Plan;
    the $35 M approved by referendum cost $13.6 M so far in repayment:
    collected over $42 M in additional capital to date for an unknown MWP;
    hard to follow the capital expenditures without a plan;
    annual capital requisitioned for MWP could finance the project if borrowed;
    borrowed capital could complete whatever final plan approved in a short time;
    borrowed money spreads costs over a 20-year period (like a mortgage);
    payments are reduced as population grows.

I have no trouble approving legitimate infrastructure costs. So far I question a number of projects on which hard earned taxpayers’ dollars were spent. If one does not know which direction the new plan will proceed it is hard to judge if a particular project is warranted. My intentions are to ensure that the most cost effective plan is developed. To date I have my doubts.

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