Sunny Slope says DWR grants are advancing South County water consolidation; asks board to resume 0% tax transfer discussion
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Summary
Sunny Slope Water general manager Drew Lander told supervisors a Department of Water Resources design and grant effort is underway to consolidate several South County water systems, and urged rapid board approval of a 0% tax transfer agreement so annexation applications can proceed to LAFCO before grant funds are at risk.
Drew Lander, general manager of Sunny Slope Water, addressed the Board of Supervisors during public comment to urge quick county action on a water consolidation and drought‑resiliency project in South County.
Lander said the project is funded by Department of Water Resources grants that allocated $2.5 million to Best Road Mutual Water Company and $13.5 million to Tres Pinos Water District, with San Benito County holding the $13.5 million grant. He said the design and development phase has consumed several million dollars in grant funds and that failure to complete the project in a timely way could result in the loss of Department of Water Resources funding.
Lander described the county’s request that Sunnyslope act as project administrator and the eventual surviving water district for the consolidated service area. He emphasized that Sunnyslope would not request property tax transfers from the county and said the annexation applications to LAFCO will specify water service only and exclude sewer. Lander asked the board to bring back the zero‑tax transfer agreement promptly so annexation applications can move to LAFCO and avoid jeopardizing the grants.
Board members thanked Lander and asked staff to consider a special meeting to bring the item back promptly; CAO staff said they had been working with public works on line identifications and might schedule the item within days.