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Fox Canyon board keeps GEMS legal reserve fee at $20 per acre‑foot
Summary
The Fox Canyon GMA board voted to maintain the Groundwater Extraction Management Enforcement Surcharge (GEMS) at $20 per acre‑foot, citing unpredictable litigation costs tied to ongoing adjudications. Staff said the fee produces 31% of revenue while legal expenses represent a larger share of costs.
The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board voted to continue collecting the Groundwater Extraction Management Enforcement Surcharge (GEMS) at the current rate of $20 per acre‑foot for the coming fiscal year. John Demers, the agency executive officer, told the board staff recommends maintaining the fee because “we are entering kind of an intense phase of litigation,” pointing to unresolved adjudications including work with the city of Oxnard.
Demers reviewed the GEMS history, noting the fee was first imposed in 2020 and later extended in 2024 to October 1, 2028. He said the agency is currently running a surplus in the GEMS reserve but that legal costs “are highly unpredictable” year to year. During discussion a board member pointed out that the GEMS fee yields about 31% of the agency’s annual income while legal expenses account for about 53% of expenditures, a ratio the board said will require closer monitoring going forward.
The motion to continue collection at $20 per acre‑foot passed on a voice/roll‑call vote with no recorded opposition. The board recorded the action as direction to staff; no additional policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
