Time to explain spending (Marin Independent Journal, May 11, 2011)

I was surprised to see the quote from Ross Valley Sanitary District President Marcia Johnson at the end of the May 5 IJ article where she said to justify the large rate increase: "When I started on the board at the end of 2008, we barely had enough money to pay the bills."

If this statement is true why, after doubling rates in 2008, did directors approve:

• buying a $2.5 million building in San Rafael rather than lease space in the district?

• spending about $750,000 to fix up the newly acquired building?

• hiring 10-plus new employees?

• guarantee a 24 percent pay increase to all employees spread over the next few years?

• filing lawsuits and acting against other local agencies, resulting in millions of dollars in legal fees?

• not cleaning up the PCBs at the Larkspur property so the buyer could develop it. Instead, the district waged a lawsuit, settled at a cost of $4.5 million?

• establishing a $500,000-per-year grant program for replacing sewer laterals?

These costly decisions don't make sense given what Johnson supposedly knew in 2008. Now the district claims the need to significantly raise rates again just to pay bills, balance the budget and build a reserve?

Perhaps it should slow down on the rate increase process, and like other agencies, look for opportunities to cut annual expenses such as:

• putting the lateral grant funding on hold.

• not filling vacant positions.

• asking management to take 1-2 days per month unpaid furlough.

• reducing travel to conferences management and board members.

• discontinuing spending $3,000 per month for a lobbyist, and $7,000 per month public relations consultant.

If Ross Valley took those steps, while taking a hard look at its spending and capital priorities, its board may work to build credibility.