Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Short-term demand forecasts were highly accurate (met 8 of 9 best practices); auditors recommended stronger documentation. Chair Member raised rising bills and affordability; staff said price elasticity will be considered in the next rate cycle. JPA audits noted San Francisquito Creek backlog and San Luis & Delta-Mendota deficiencies; committee discussed a board oversight framework and handbook review.
The board approved the Prop 218 Engineer's Report and Prop 26 Cost of Service Study and set Sept. 29, 2026 hearings; Prop 218 ballots will be mailed to affected owners as part of the process. Staff said the neighboring Tule Subbasin interim plan includes discussion of a proposed pumping moratorium, adding urgency to finish the GSP by March 2027 as the state seeks six weeks between meetings. The maximum rates are $26.84 per assessable acre and $19.24 per acre-foot.
A $50/acre-foot groundwater extraction fee was approved for FY 2026-27 after a majority-protest hearing, along with a penalty policy providing a 12-month cure period before up to $500/acre-foot penalties. A draft recharge policy was discussed but not adopted; commenters raised concerns about leave-behind percentages and technical support.
The district's 2025 audit received a clean opinion, but irrigation operations show a ~$4M annual loss, prompting discussion of future rate and non-rate revenue options. An ~$800K fraudulent disbursement tied to a vendor bank info change led to strengthened internal controls. The board discussed a dual-engine vacuum truck (~$806K) amid upcoming CARB regulation changes; no purchase was approved.
A prolonged heat spell of 11+ consecutive days above 100°F begins tomorrow, and TID will be closely monitoring nighttime lows for peak load impacts. The board approved a new out-of-district replenishment water service for FMC Farms on the Highline Canal, delivering surface water to almonds historically reliant on groundwater. An improvement district was also officially dissolved after members had unknowingly built a new pressurized irrigation system outside its boundaries.
