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ATC Report
In This Issue:
HJTA Joins Public in Dispute

4/12 Meeting Summary

Help Needed with Rate Protest


About RPA
Ratepayer Protection Alliance (RPA) was formed to support the rights of the people of Amador County against unfair rate increases, which are usually used to subsidize special interests. Recently, RPA has assisted citizens who successfully protested several water rate increases. RPA is committed to ensuring that water, wastewater and garbage rates in Amador County are justified, and do not unfairly burden local residents.

Donations
RPA works hard to minimize costs of informing the public of unfair rate increases. RPA operates on the donated time of volunteers and no one is paid for their efforts. Donations for postage costs can be sent to:
Ratepayer Protection Alliance
P.O. Box 51
Pine Grove CA 95665
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Joins Public in Dispute with Amador Water Agency

Along with the public and Ratepayer Protection Alliance, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is disputing the constitutionality of a resolution that the AWA Board of Directors adopted on March 8, 2012. The resolution requires protests made in accordance with Proposition 218 to be submitted on a special form provided by AWA. According to HJTA’s interpretation of Prop 218, ratepayers' protests cannot be limited to AWA’s form. Press release...


4/12/12 AWA Board Meeting Summary
  1. AWA Annual Audit Still not in Agreement with 66013 Fund Report
    After the public presented over $600,000 in discrepancies between the annual audit and other AWA financial reports on March 22, 2012, AWA still has not explained the differences or approved the audit. Details...
  2. AWA Disputes California Constitution Interpretation by Howard Jarvis TA
    AWA attorney Steve Kronick stated that a letter from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) did not mean that AWA’s resolution to limit ratepayer protests to the AWA “official” ballot was unconstitutional. More...
  3. Monthly Billing vs. Every Other Month?
    Beginning in May, AWA will bill all water customers on a monthly basis. Customers who have been billed every other month will be switched to monthly billing. Though it will increase AWA's operating costs, monthly billing is necessary for the system-wide rate consolidation AWA wants to implement. Details...
  4. More Wasted Money
    AWA voted to remove the $1.50 credit card processing fee that they imposed to reimburse merchant fees charged to AWA. The merchant bills AWA an additional $2.40 to impose $1.50 on AWA’s customers. It took AWA 6 months (at a cost of around $6,000) to realize they made matters worse by charging the $1.50 fee.
  5. Community Facilities Districts Help Land Developers at Ratepayer’s Risk
    The AWA board introduced an ordinance that establishes Community Facilities District policies that will guarantee certain land developers priority over all others in the event of shortages. More...
The next regular AWA board meeting will be Thursday April 26th at 9am. If you would like to receive the AWA agendas or full informational packets before each meeting, email cthompson@amadorwater.org.


Help Needed with Rate Protest

In the next month or two, we expect AWA to send water rate increase notices to ratepayers. RPA is currently gearing up to help ratepayers stop the unjustified increase. We’ll need volunteers to walk their neighborhoods collecting protest signatures. Donations for postage will reduce the need to walk door to door.

Click here to help
Learn how you can protest

Please forward this message to others in Amador County and help us get the word out!

Visit us on the web:
www.amadorwatchdog.org
Our mailing address is: Ratepayer Protection Alliance, P.O. Box 51, Pine Grove CA 95665
Our telephone: 209-223-0993

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