The Davis Enterprise of Nov. 16 reports that the Water Advisory Committee, by an 8-2 vote, recommends an untested billing structure. In my view, leaving fixed costs undefined is a flaw. A simple ballot alternative is the following:

Explanation: Fixed costs are the dollar amounts spent at the river water connection site before any water is delivered. These costs are 100 percent billable to the Davis lot owners, the individual Davis lot owner billed in proportion to the square footage of the lot. The owner is given the choice between a lump sum payment or an installment plan at the Davis going rate of interest and total number of years. The cost of a water meter is a fixed cost to the owner and is payable in the same way. Yes, this means lot size data compilation by the Yolo County registrar and the city.

All costs after the first water is delivered are variable costs, including maintenance of the capital structures, and are billed 100 percent to the water users at a uniform per gallon price proportional to the gallons of water used by the user.

Water ballot, Part 1: Vote yes or no on the installation of the river water connection. Water ballot, Part 2: Vote for one of the billing systems A or B or C, etc.

If the yes vote under Part 1 has the majority, the billing system with the larger number of votes shall be implemented.

I recommend the ballot alternative described here as one of the options A or B or C, etc.

Leon Wegge

Davis

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