California residents question 1977 water tax for project paid off in 2017
Residents in San Benito County have been paying a water tax since 1977 for imported water, but a civil grand jury report claims the tax is outdated and should have ended in 2017, prompting calls for the issue to be put back on the ballot. … The tax was initially approved to pay off a $19.9 million federal loan for imported water to address local shortages and support a growing community. … [San Benito County Water District General Manager Dana] Jacobson explained, “Without that water that comes in from the Central Valley Project from San Luis Reservoir, there wouldn’t be a high enough quality of water to deliver to the municipal customers and the agricultural customers as well.” The district maintains that the tax has no expiration date and funds ongoing maintenance and operations of the system.
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