FPUD sets Feb. 28 hearing for directors' per diem increase

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Fallbrook Public Utility District has set a Feb. 28 hearing for a 5% increase in the per diem pay board members receive.

The FPUD board was to set a hearing to consider the increase, and that occurred Jan. 25 with a 5-0 vote. The proposed 5% increase would change the amount directors receive for attending meetings from $115.76 to $121.55.

FPUD's Administrative Code stipulates that per diem pay is to be reviewed annually, and any increase is limited to 5%. A recommended increase requires a public hearing to be set, and the increase will not take effect until at least 60 days after the meeting. The 60-day period allows for registered voters in the district to collect signatures for a referendum.

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. The per diem for Lakeside Water District directors is $125, and that amount has been unchanged since August 1989 and is given only for full board meetings rather than for committee meetings. Padre Dam Municipal Water District directors have a per diem of $145. A $150 per diem is given to directors of the Rainbow Municipal Water District, the Santa Fe Irrigation District, and the San Diego County Water Authority. (Rainbow's last increase was approved by the board in November 1999 and took effect in January 2000). Helix Water District board members receive per diem pay of $225.