The Colusa Groundwater Authority is currently working on a new fee structure to support the costs of implementing the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Colusa Subbasin. The fees adopted in 2019 established a fee structure to support administration costs and costs to comply with the requirements of the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A GSP was prepared and submitted in 2022, and then revised and resubmitted in April 2024 to address the “Incomplete” determination from the state Department of Water Resources.
A new fee structure is being developed to address GSP implementation costs as well as ongoing administration and SGMA compliance costs. Consultant proposals will be received and considered in October 2024, with the rate development process occurring from November 2024 through July 2025. A new fee structure is expected to be in place by August 2025.
FY 2024/25 Operations Fee Adopted at $1.21 per acre
At the June 25, 2024 meeting, the CGA Board adopted the FY 2024/25 CGA Operations Fee as authorized by Resolution No. 2019-02. The Fee was adopted at a rate of $1.21 per acre to help address costs to begin implementation of GSP activities.
The Fiscal Year 2021/2022 CGA Budget was adopted by the CGA Board at the March 23, 2021 meeting.
Operations Fee Adopted at $1.00 per acre – FY 2020/21 through FY 2023/24
At their March 24, 2020 Board Meeting, the CGA Board adopted the 2020/2021 CGA Operations Fee as authorized by Resolution No. 2019-02. The Fee was adopted at a rate of $1.00 per acre. The CGA Board continued to maintain the Operations Fee at $1.00 per acre for FY 2021/22, FY 2022/23 and FY 2023/24.
Proposition 218 Election Passed June 5, 2019
On June 5, 2019 the Colusa Groundwater Authority Board held a public hearing in Colusa, CA to hear public comment and determine the results of a Proposition 218 Election for a proposed Operations Fee of $1.21 per acre. Out of a total 5,647 parcels subject to the fee, 125 valid protests were received, or 2.2% of the parcels, and the fee passed. (A majority protest of greater than 50% was needed for the election to fail).
After the protests were counted, the CGA Board adopted Resolution 2019-02, certifying the results of the election and setting the CGA Operations fee.
Click HERE to view/download Resolution 2019-02
Proposition 218 Majority Protest Hearing
The Colusa Groundwater Authority (CGA), in accordance with (i) Authority Resolution 2019-01, adopted on March 26, 2019, (ii) Article XIIID, Section 6, of the California Constitution, and (iii) Section 10730(b)(2) of the California Water Code, will hold a public hearing on a proposed Operations Fee on June 5, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at the Colusa Industrial Properties, 100 Sunrise Blvd., Colusa, CA 95932 to consider a proposal by the CGA to adopt a new fee in the amount of $1.21 per acre annually, indexed to Consumer Price Index, Western Region, for the 2019 Fiscal Year and the subsequent four fiscal years for everyday operations of the CGA. A Public Hearing Notice and protest instructions will be mailed to all affected landowners by April 19, 2019.
Click HERE to view/download the Public Hearing Notice
Click HERE to view/download the Public Hearing Notice in Spanish
Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group has completed a Fee Study for the Colusa Groundwater Authority. The Fee Study describes the Colusa Groundwater Authority operations and finances and also describes the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the need for funding.
Click HERE to view/download the Fee Study for the Colusa Groundwater Authority
Long-term Funding of the Colusa Groundwater Authority, Background
The CGA is dedicated to maintaining local control of the groundwater resources in Colusa County, and as such, the CGA Joint Powers Authority was formed to act as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the applicable groundwater basins in Colusa County. The Member Agencies of the Colusa Groundwater Authority Board agreed to fund the JPA for the first two years of operation (July, 2017-June, 2019) while the organization is getting up and running. After June, 2019, a long-term funding source needs to be in place.
The CGA Joint Powers Agreement states that “Upon the formation of the Authority, the Board of Directors shall work diligently on the development, adoption and implementation of a long-term funding plan to cover the operating and administrative costs of the Authority.” (Article 5.2)
To fund SGMA implementation efforts, the CGA Board chose to investigate a Proposition 218 majority protest process for approval to levy property-related fees on landowners within its jurisdiction. The CGA contracted with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group to provide the services to complete a Fee Study, and provide public noticing and public outreach.
At the March 26, 2019 CGA Board meeting, the Board adopted Resolution 2019-1: A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Colusa Groundwater Authority Fixing Procedures for a Proposition 218 Majority Protest Regarding the Operations Fee and Declaring its Intent to Adopt a Five Year Budget, to Fix and Collect the Operations Fee, to Declare the Necessity for Levying the Operations Fee, and to Call and Notice a Public Hearing.
Click HERE to view/download CGA Board Resolution 2019-01
Click HERE to view/download the CGA 5-year Budget
Town Hall Public Information meetings were held in March:
Arbuckle/Williams/College City
March 6, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at the I.O.O.F. building, downtown Arbuckle
Colusa/Princeton/Grimes
March 14, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at the Colusa Veterans Hall
Maxwell/Williams
March 20, 2019, 6:00 p.m. at the Sites Project Authority Office in Maxwell
Click HERE to download the Presentation from the Town Hall meetings.
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Public Information Meeting, January 31, 2019
A public information meeting was held on January 31, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Colusa Indian Community Events Center, 3720 Highway 45, Colusa, CA 95932. Landowners in the CGA’s jurisdiction received an announcement about this meeting in the mail in mid-January. If you did not receive an announcement, please contact CGA Staff at 530.458.0719.
Click HERE to download the Agenda
Click HERE to download the PowerPoint Presentation
Click HERE to view a VIDEO of the meeting on YouTube