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Published on 06/26/1995 All articles from this issue

Water district OKs budget, increases funds for flood zones

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By Jennifer Bixler / Town Crier Staff Writer

The Santa Clara Valley Water District 1995-96 budget has been approved by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, which includes a seven million budget for the northwest flood zone in which Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View are located.

"The budget is a countywide issue. Santa Clara County Water District has two major functions as a wholesale water supplier and flood protection," said district spokeswoman Cheryl Wessling.

The amount for the 1995-96 budget totals $167 million, representing a reduction of $1 million over last year.

The major changes in the budget include a $1 million reduction in the district's water utility and a $7 million increase in the flood control program. The overall general fund will decrease by $8 million.

The northwest flood zone area is among five flood zone areas in Santa Clara County. The flood zone area also includes Palo Alto, and a portion of Cupertino and Sunnyvale, Wessling said.

Of the seven million allotted the area, $4.7 million of the flood budget will go to operations and $2.4 million goes to capital projects, Wessling said.

These projects would go to provide flood prevention for creeks in the area, Wessling said.

"Our mission to provide a reliable, high-quality water supply for county citizens and to manage flood waters for public safety and the protection of property remain our top concern," said water district board chairwoman Rosemary Kamei. "But how we approach and fulfill those missions is changing."

District officials said the budget has been restructured to separate the district's ongoing operations from capital projects, such as construction of water supply pipelines. Appropriations to projects are carried forward each year until a project is completed, rather than expiring at the end of each fiscal year, as in previous budgets.

The district has also undergone restructuring by streamlining eight departments into four. Officials hope the restructuring will result in better cost savings and less bureaucracy.

"The restructuring will not result in job layoffs," said Stan Williams, general manager for the water district.

The district services 1.6 million customers countywide.