Title
a. Hold a public hearing to consider approving and adopting Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 assessment charges with cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.7% for Flood Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12, and 17; and
b. Adopt resolutions approving the FY 2025-26 assessment charges with COLA increase of 2.7% for Flood Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12, and 17.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Hold a public hearing to consider approving and adopting Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 assessment charges with cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.7% for Flood Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12, and 17; and
b. Adopt resolutions approving the FY 2024-25 assessment charges with COLA increase of 2.7% for Flood Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12, and 17.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Water Resource Agency (“MCWRA”) ordinances that govern MCWRA flood zones are Ordinance Nos. 2626, 2974, 3878, and 3881 (“Ordinances”). These Ordinances were adopted for the main purposes of protecting life and property, and reducing the impact caused by flooding.
MCWRA requests a FY 2025-26 COLA increase of 2.7% to the assessments of MCWRA’s flood control benefit assessment zones below, based on the annual change in Consumer Price Index (CPI) February 2024 -February 2025 for the San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose urban area:
• Zones 1 & 1A - Pajaro River Fund 112
• Zone 8 - Soledad Storm Drain Fund 121
• Zone 9 - Reclamation Ditch Fund 122
• Zone 12 - San Lorenzo Creek Fund 124
• Zone 17 - Moro Cojo Slough Fund 127
The attached Summary Chart details the assessment rates of FY 2025-26 with 2.7% COLA increase from the rates of FY 2024-25.
It is requested that the Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors approve and adopt FY 2025-26 assessment rates as set forth in the Notices of Public Hearing relating to Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12 and 17, all identified in the Public Notices. Notices of the public hearing have been published for two consecutive weeks in the Monterey County Weekly on May 8, 2025 and May 16, 2025.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
At the April 21, 2025 meeting, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors approve and adopt a FY 2025-26 COLA increase of 2.7% for Flood Zones 1, 1A, 8, 9, 12, and 17.
FINANCING:
Estimated revenue with the requested 2.7% COLA increase in FY2025-26 to the flood control benefit assessment Zones is as follows:
Zones 1 & 1A - Pajaro River Fund 112 : $539,935
Zone 8 - Soledad Storm Drain Fund 121 : $90,675
Zone 9 - Reclamation Ditch Fund 122 : $1,451,590
Zone 12 - San Lorenzo Creek Fund 124 : $38,288
Zone 17 - Moro Cojo Slough Fund 127 : $101,913
The MCWRA Fiscal Year 2025-26 Recommended Budgets is as follows:
Fund 112 - Expenditure $891,499; Revenue $687,003; and Use of Fund Balances $204,496
Fund 121 - Expenditure $109,379; Revenue $112,180; and Add to Fund Balances $2,801
Fund 122 - Expenditure $2,176,631; Revenue $1,843,282; and Use to Fund Balances $333,349
Fund 124 - Expenditure $56,033; Revenue $49,898; and Use of Fund Balances $6,135
Fund 127 - Expenditure $686,838; Revenue $365,508; and Use of Fund Balances $321,330
Prepared by: Nan Kyung Kim, Finance Manager III (831) 755-4860
Approved by: __________________________________________
Ara Azhderian, General Manager (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Summary - Fiscal Year 2025-26 Assessment charges of Flood Zones
2. WRA FY26 Assessments PPT
3. Resolution Zones 1 and 1A
4. Resolution Zones 8, 9, 12
5. Resolution Zones 17