Last week’s Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors vote for new rates in a special meeting occurred in apparent violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law.

The vote was taken under the title “Discussion Items,” whereas in order to vote, the item should fall under IWD’s “Action Items.”

Following Bartle Wells Associates’ Michael DeGroot’s presentation, the board voted for an 8% per year rate increase over five years for water. It passed 4-1 with Director Steve Olson the no vote.

A 13% increase each year over the next five years for sewer rates, passed 4-1 with Peter Szabadi the lone no vote.

The Town Crier reached out to President Charles Schelly to let him know of the violation but did not hear back by press time.

The next step was to be public meetings so the directors and water study agency can explain to the public the needs for the increases and then the public has the right to vote on the increases.

Proposition 218 “established voter approval requirements for general and special taxes and provided the initiative power to voters to reduce or repeal any local tax, assessment, fee or charge.”