From the SacBee Saturday, February 13, 2010
Sacramento city officials acknowledged Tuesday they misused utilities funds to pay for general government expenses.

... The 1996 voter-approved initiative bars local governments from using ratepayer funds such as water and sewer to cover general government expenses...

Marty Hanneman, the city's utilities director, addressed the City Council on Tuesday night, outlining a number of steps the city has taken to address Proposition 218 violations and proposing additional measures. He said there had been memos indicating possible problems.

...

Councilwoman Lauren Hammond said she was upset the violations could have caused utility rates to go up for residents because the money for utilities was being diverted elsewhere. She said her own bills went from less than $79 in 2003 to more than $106 in late 2009.

"I have no confidence in your cost allocations. It's not personal. I just don't believe you," she told the utilities director. "Obviously the city of Sacramento has never complied with Proposition 218 … Something is seriously wrong here and we have not fixed it and management has not fixed it."

...

City officials say they still don't know how much the violations cost ratepayers. The grand jury cited a 2008 consultant's report that found violations had cost the utilities funds more than $21 million since 1996.

...

As a result, it's not uncommon for localities to stretch the limits of the law. "The issue goes way beyond the city of Sacramento," he said.

NCT ENCINITAS: District contemplates water rate increases

13-percent increase forecast for spring

BW City Wins Award
Acknowledged by Association of Energy Engineers for Installation of IceBank Energy Storage Tanks as Part of Retrofit Project
FAIR LAWN, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Last night, theCivic Center in Encinitas, California received the Association of Energy Engineers` (AEE) 2009 International Award in the Renewable Energy Project
of the Year category. As part of the retrofit project, a hybrid cooling system, which included CALMAC`s IceBank energy storage tanks and Trane`s cool water system, was installed at the Civic Center, and reduced its energy costs by 43 percent.

"Our off balance sheet obligations associated with Social Security and Medicare put us in a $56 trillion financial hole—and that's before the recession was officially declared last year. America now owes more than Americans are worth—and the gap is growing!"

WSJ Warning: The Deficits Are Coming!

SDNN County Supervisor resignations could lead to hand-me-down appointments
Excerpts from an editorial discussing the possible retirement of County Supervisors

If Cox or Roberts were to resign mid-term the County Charter (section 401.4) gives the Board three options of how to fill the seat. The remaining board members could then 1) appoint a successor to fill the expired term, 2) appoint a successor until a special election or 3) make no appointment and immediately hold a special election.

But there is a fourth option that would be better for democracy. The supervisors could appoint a ‘caretaker’ supervisor until the next election with a commitment that he or she won’t run for the office.

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