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FPUD approves directors' per diem increase

Board members of the Fallbrook Public Utility District will receive an increase in the per diem they are paid for attending board or other meetings on behalf of FPUD.

The board voted 5-0, Monday, Feb. 22, to approve a per diem increase from $110.25 to $115.76.

“We get a tiny raise,” Jennifer DeMeo, board president of FPUD, said.

FPUD’s administrative code stipulated that per diem pay is to be reviewed annually, and any increase is limited to 5%.

“This is an item that the board considers every year,” Paula de Sousa Mills, legal counsel for FPUD, said.

The initial review took place Jan. 25. District staff provided per diem amounts for other water districts, and the only per diem lower the FPUD’s is the Valley Center Municipal Water District, whose board members receive $100 for each meeting. A recommended increase requires a public hearing to be set, and a 4-0 vote on Jan. 25 with DeMeo recovering from surgery set the Feb. 22 hearing for the 5% increase.

The increase will not take effect until at least 60 days after the meeting.

“It would be effective April 26, 2021,” Mills said.

The 60-day period allows for registered voters in the district to collect signatures for a referendum.

“If they follow certain procedures, they can undo it,” Mills said.

FPUD received no public comments about the rate increase either by U.S. mail or by electronic mail between Jan. 25 and Feb. 22, and no members of the public commented during the Feb. 22 virtual meeting.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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