EID increased their 2012 capital budget $2 million and has already approved a $1.2 million increase in their 2012 operating budget. EID Overhead spending is up 143% ($10 million) in the last eight years while number of water customers is up just 17% and CPI is up just 23%. Included in the Board-approved 2011 operating budget are such “essentials” as $2.2 million of consultants and contractors, 175 vehicles for 115 field employees, $6,000 management car allowances, $18,500 per employee medical plans, $12,500 per employee pension contributions, 7-10 weeks per employee paid time off, 3 PR employees, 5 HR employees, 20 Engineers, a 40% excess capacity “Taj Mahal” headquarters, $50 million of unfunded retiree benefits, etc.

EID’s new 2012-2016 Capital Plan includes $45 million for Hydro/FERC and $9 million of brand new IT projects. $60 million new debt already is planned to pay for these projects; associated interest costs on this new debt will force another 9% rate increase in 2013.

Is “rubber-stamping” budgets with these kind of items what EDH ratepayers want from their EID Director? Why does EID continue to increase spending when our County, State and governments everywhere are cutting back?
EID ratepayers deserve a Director who will tell EID management “No” to its excessive spending, debt hiking, more excess capacity, and rate hiking.

Harry Norris is a most likeable person. But he hasn’t lived up to his fiscal oversight responsibilities to EID ratepayers; literally tens of million of dollars have been squandered amongst the $750 million EID has spent in the eight years Harry has been on the EID Board. That’s why, counting Property Tax subsidies, EID Sewer rates now are DOUBLE those of four nearby districts and Water rates are 23% to 110% higher than four surrounding districts.

So it’s time for El Dorado Hills to decide…likeable Harry who defers to management spending proposals and gives us “sky-high” rates?…or fiscal responsibility to the ratepayers? Please vote on November 8th!

Visit http://www.FixEID.org for more of the rest of the story regarding what EID has done for ratepayers.