NIPOMO, Calif. - A decision to finally establish a new supplemental water source for Nipomo may be drawing closer.
Last spring, voters in Nipomo voted on a funding proposal to build a $26 million supplemental water pipeline into Santa Maria.
Michael LeBrun, who works for the Nipomo Community Services District, says, "I think we heard loud and clear that property owners and our customers across the Mesa were not open to the thought of funding the capital with a property tax measure."
Despite the defeat, the proposed inter tie pipeline may still be built.
LeBrun says, "We have scaled down the project, we'll take it in phases and we have a financing plan for that, that does not include any increase rates for our customers or property taxes."
Instead, the new $14.1 million project would be paid through a variety of ways.
"We're using reserves the district has on hand that we set aside for water projects and we intend to secure a approximately five million dollar of funds through the issuance of certificates of participation," LeBrun says.
If the inter tie project is approved, homeowners in Nipomo will not see their property taxes increase, but they will see the cost of water rise.
LeBrun tells Central Coast News, "We do expect that purchasing the more dependable municipal blend from the City of Santa Maria is going to raise our water rates incrementally."
The Community Services District Board of Directors could authorize bidding on Wednesday and receive those in a matter of weeks.
LeBrun also says, "That will give the district Board of Directors an opportunity to look at those costs, make sure that our funding plans still makes sense and consider awarding that bid in late April."
If approved, construction could begin this spring with completion by summer 2014.
The board will also hear a preliminary report from an evaluation committee that has studied other sources for supplemental water.
The committee may have other options ranked higher than a proposed pipeline to Santa Maria.
