Non-payment notices were sent to 71 accounts; most invoices are due by end of July, with some corrected invoices due August 9, and unpaid amounts may be added to the county tax roll. Staff reviewed draft meter/electrical guidelines (0.81 factor; 5-year meter calibration; 3-year pump tests). Staff recommended shifting MLRP timing by potentially deferring earthwork-heavy basin work and potentially advancing vegetative projects to reduce March 2027 grant risk.
Board approved the FY 2026/27 Projects & Management Actions budget (~$12M), including $7.7M for TID transitional water, and agreed to revisit cash flow in Sept. 2026. Three fee appeals were decided; staff noted a standing-trees/fallow policy gap and intends to bring rule updates. $1.9M remains unpaid across 92 accounts; unpaid invoices may go to the tax roll after July 30.
Staff discussed proposed guidelines for using electrical meter data in groundwater-use estimates, including annual pump efficiency tests each July–September starting in 2026, and planned an outreach notice next week. Recharge credit estimation would phase from soil-based estimates (2025) to improved methods over ~3 years. Staff reviewed a draft FY 2026/2027 budget with ~$9M revenue and a proposed $2.5M transitional water prepayment for board review.
Board approved appeals 1, 2, and 4 (meter portion); denied 3 and 8; continued 5–7 to June for standing-tree/pending data. 60 modification requests processed; modified/appeal invoices to be mailed/emailed early next week with a 30-day window; 2026 reporting period to open today. FY 26/27 Operational Budget adopted; Project/Management Action Budget returns in June for TID cash-flow clarity.
Groundwater use fee invoices total ~$7M, with ~$4.6M still outstanding; staff is targeting initial non-compliance notices around June 1 (pending May 28 board review) for unpaid accounts without appeals or modifications. Extra documentation for modifications and appeals is due May 18. MLRP pilot project agreements are near execution, with site visits to non-pilot landowners targeted for late May.
