Carpinteria Valley Water District staff presented an updated three‑year rate outlook that factors in higher capital and operating costs tied to the advanced water purification facility (AWPF) bids and other expense changes.

Maisel, the district'9s finance presenter, said the district revised its baseline water demand from 4,000 acre‑feet to 3,800 acre‑feet after recent lower sales and updated expense assumptions. "We now think we're going to add one more year of 7.5% and then a 4% increase," Maisel said, describing a proposed rate path to help cover capital debt and operating needs.

Staff highlighted two main drivers of higher expenses: increased treatment costs (about $1.5 million higher from prior assumptions) and higher personnel costs following a salary survey. Maisel also showed regional comparisons that place Carpinteria in the middle of local agencies'9 typical bills for comparable use categories.

The board discussed the structure of customer charges. The district previously decided to place CAP debt on property tax bills; staff now estimate the tax‑bill component could be about $350 annually (about $30 per month) for a 3/4‑inch user under updated capital cost assumptions. Directors debated whether to keep the CAP debt as a fixed charge on the property tax bill or include more on the water bill. Several directors favored a fixed tax bill charge to reduce rate volatility for variable water usage.

Staff emphasized that these are updated projections, not adopted rates, and that the board will consider final rates and the structure of charges before adoption.