Earlier this month Terri Sforza wrote about a possible merger between Municipal Water District of OC and the Orange County Water District. For years the Orange County Register has pointed out the redundant and ridiculous overlaps in these two agencies and how it makes sense for taxpayers, or rate payers depending on your view of payments to government bureaucracies.
How much money would be saved by such a merger seems to be open to debate but Sforza thinks at least $1-million right from the start. Putting the $1-million in perspective, Sforza notes that it is just a drop in the $300-million revenue bucket for the agencies.
Currently, the Orange County Water District is a "member agency" of the MWDOC. These multiple layers of bureaucracy removes the people, water users and voters, further from the decision-making table. Perhaps a merger will bring Fullerton voters and water users closer to the table of managements' fiduciary responsibility to the people they serve.
As it stands, Fullerton voters get one single vote from Mayor Pro Tem Don Bankhead who represents Fullerton voters on the OCWD Board of Directors. That is one vote out of ten cast on each issue before the Board.
No one knows what a merger will mean for Fullerton. All we can do is wonder if a bigger water agency equates to a better water agency for those who foot the bill. If history has taught us anything it is that bigger government is not better government.
REMINDER: The Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee's last meeting is Monday night at 6:30PM at Fullerton City Hall. Don't be shy, we're in this together. Speak now or pay later!
If you would like a copy of the briefing provided to the Ad Hoc Committee, please email me at GregSebourn@yahoo.com.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Water District's $571,400 Ethics Office
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is spending $571,400 to fund their internal Ethics Office according to the approved 2011 budget.
According to the District's website, the Ethics Office "helps maintain an ethical culture at Metropolitan by enforcement of ethics-related rules and laws; education for directors, officers and employees; and enhancement by promotion of the District's six core values." Are MWD employees so unethical that they need this office? Maybe, but they don't seem to be doing a very good job of educating employees and board members. I vaguely recall an attempt 2 years ago to get a 25% retroactive pension spike.
The six core values mentioned by MWD are integrity, diversity, stewardship, leadership, open communication, and teamwork. Too bad personal and professional responsibility wasn't included.
$571,400 to "help maintain an ethical culture".
The funds pay for one Ph.D. and two others identified as an educator and an administrative liaison. With failed overhead like this, it is no wonder the MWD Operations & Maintenance budget projects an 18.4% increase in salary and benefit costs as well as a 23% increase in construction related costs and a 23% increase in Water System Operations!
It's also no wonder why Fullerton's water rates are anticipated to nearly double.
This Monday, May 23rd, the City will be holding a public meeting with an ad-hoc water rate committee in the City Council chambers at City Hall (303 W. Commonwealth) at 6:30PM. I encourage ALL Fullerton water users to attend. You will be given an opportunity to voice your concerns and let committee members know where you stand.
If you would like a copy of the Fullerton Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee Briefing, please email me at GregSebourn@yahoo.com and I will email it to you.
Speak now or pay later!
According to the District's website, the Ethics Office "helps maintain an ethical culture at Metropolitan by enforcement of ethics-related rules and laws; education for directors, officers and employees; and enhancement by promotion of the District's six core values." Are MWD employees so unethical that they need this office? Maybe, but they don't seem to be doing a very good job of educating employees and board members. I vaguely recall an attempt 2 years ago to get a 25% retroactive pension spike.
The six core values mentioned by MWD are integrity, diversity, stewardship, leadership, open communication, and teamwork. Too bad personal and professional responsibility wasn't included.
$571,400 to "help maintain an ethical culture".
The funds pay for one Ph.D. and two others identified as an educator and an administrative liaison. With failed overhead like this, it is no wonder the MWD Operations & Maintenance budget projects an 18.4% increase in salary and benefit costs as well as a 23% increase in construction related costs and a 23% increase in Water System Operations!
It's also no wonder why Fullerton's water rates are anticipated to nearly double.
This Monday, May 23rd, the City will be holding a public meeting with an ad-hoc water rate committee in the City Council chambers at City Hall (303 W. Commonwealth) at 6:30PM. I encourage ALL Fullerton water users to attend. You will be given an opportunity to voice your concerns and let committee members know where you stand.
If you would like a copy of the Fullerton Water Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee Briefing, please email me at GregSebourn@yahoo.com and I will email it to you.
Speak now or pay later!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Court: OC District Attorney's Office deliberately withheld key evidence
Court considers censuring D.A. in 'enemies' list case
A state appeals court is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether the Orange County District Attorney's Office should be censured for what the court says appears to be prosecutorial misconduct in a case involving indicted ex-Capistrano Unified administrator Susan McGill and her purported role in the creation of political "enemies" lists of district parents.
The 4th Appellate District Court, which is considering dismissing McGill's lone criminal charge of lying to a grand jury under oath, said in a tentative ruling earlier this month that prosecutors appear to have deliberately withheld key evidence that could exonerate McGill.
Read the entire article HERE.
A state appeals court is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether the Orange County District Attorney's Office should be censured for what the court says appears to be prosecutorial misconduct in a case involving indicted ex-Capistrano Unified administrator Susan McGill and her purported role in the creation of political "enemies" lists of district parents.
The 4th Appellate District Court, which is considering dismissing McGill's lone criminal charge of lying to a grand jury under oath, said in a tentative ruling earlier this month that prosecutors appear to have deliberately withheld key evidence that could exonerate McGill.
Read the entire article HERE.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Unionized Public Education and Thomas Jefferson's Vision
Education is a double-edged sword.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in his 1778 “A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge” speaking of education and governance “…that even under the best of forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny;”
Jefferson goes on to write “…and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of the other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest…”
Jefferson wrote much about educating the public and even created the first institution of higher education, University of Virginia.
I bring this up, not because I know about education or have studied Jefferson but because it seems to me that common sense should prevail when it comes to funding public education.
Jefferson believed that those “whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth, or other accidental condition or circumstance;”
In other words, if you have the natural talent, then by all means receive the formal education.
In Jefferson’s time, it was common for the eldest male to receive formal education while other siblings learned the trades. It was all a home could afford. Jefferson desired to right this problem by offering public education. He believed it was a wise investment in the future of our nation.
So, how does Jefferson’s strong desire for public education fit in with the recent budgetary failures of our public education system? It would seem that, if public education were able to “illuminate” as Jefferson wrote, that we would not need to cut spending nor would we need to raise taxes. In Jefferson’s Utopia, we would have a balanced budget that met the needs of our people through the consent of the people.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in his 1778 “A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge” speaking of education and governance “…that even under the best of forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny;”
Jefferson goes on to write “…and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of the other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest…”
Jefferson wrote much about educating the public and even created the first institution of higher education, University of Virginia.
I bring this up, not because I know about education or have studied Jefferson but because it seems to me that common sense should prevail when it comes to funding public education.
Jefferson believed that those “whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth, or other accidental condition or circumstance;”
In other words, if you have the natural talent, then by all means receive the formal education.
In Jefferson’s time, it was common for the eldest male to receive formal education while other siblings learned the trades. It was all a home could afford. Jefferson desired to right this problem by offering public education. He believed it was a wise investment in the future of our nation.
So, how does Jefferson’s strong desire for public education fit in with the recent budgetary failures of our public education system? It would seem that, if public education were able to “illuminate” as Jefferson wrote, that we would not need to cut spending nor would we need to raise taxes. In Jefferson’s Utopia, we would have a balanced budget that met the needs of our people through the consent of the people.
Earlier this month teachers took to the streets of Fullerton to rally support for tax extensions. Some believe that these tax extensions could save many schools from laying off teachers.
Others, me included, believe that an extension of the temporary taxes currently due to expire in June only rewards poor governance and failed leadership.
Based on the financial records released by the Fullerton School District (K-8) and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District (9-12) it appears that most teachers are earning at or above the median income level for Orange County residents. This tells me that the teachers are paid fairly and equitably for the services rendered assuming of course that each performs equally with other teachers receiving the same pay. That assumption, however, is false since teachers’ pay is based on seniority, certifications, and college credits received. Their pay is not tied to student learning outcomes.
Others, me included, believe that an extension of the temporary taxes currently due to expire in June only rewards poor governance and failed leadership.
Based on the financial records released by the Fullerton School District (K-8) and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District (9-12) it appears that most teachers are earning at or above the median income level for Orange County residents. This tells me that the teachers are paid fairly and equitably for the services rendered assuming of course that each performs equally with other teachers receiving the same pay. That assumption, however, is false since teachers’ pay is based on seniority, certifications, and college credits received. Their pay is not tied to student learning outcomes.