Rainbow MWD adopts 2023-24 budget

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Rainbow Municipal Water District adopted its 2023-24 budget during the June 27 Rainbow board meeting.

The 5-0 vote approved a $55,020,813 operating budget and a $14,225,000 capital budget. The Fiscal Year 2022-23 operating budget was $54,506,344.

“We’ve held our internal expenses to well under the rate of inflation,” said Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy.

The budget is based on water sales of 12,700 acre-feet. The anticipated water revenue of $44,950,230 would allow some money to be added to the district’s reserves if that and the budgeted expenditures of $41,901,026 don’t have significant deviations.

Approximately 46% of the water expenditures will be for water purchases with capital projects accounting for 18%, salaries and benefits comprising 14%, maintenance and supply being approximately 12% of the total and debt service utilizing 6%.

The wastewater operating fund budget calls for $4,788,000 of revenues and $4,155,334 of expenses. The general operating fund budget has both revenues and expenditures of $8,964,453.

The 2023-24 water capital budget is $9,225,000. The expenditures for the new Hutton, Turner and Dentro De Lomas pump stations include $6,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 with another $4,000,000 planned for 2024-25. The final $1,500,000 for the Rice Canyon Pipeline project, which will construct an 18-inch water main from the Rice Canyon Tank to the Citro development, is planned to be spent during 2023-24.

The 2023-24 capital budget includes $600,000 for the evaluation of groundwater recharge return flow from the Lower San Luis Rey Valley Groundwater Basin. The district plans to spend $375,000 for the solar panels and battery backup system, which will be placed on the Sumac Reservoir. Relocating the water mains for the new Live Oak Park Bridge has a $200,000 budgeted amount for 2023-24.

The budgeted capital expenditures also include $130,000 for electrical panel switches, $100,000 to develop and implement a corrosion prevention program, $50,000 to rehabilitate the pipeline between Gird Road and West Lilac Road, $25,000 to relocate the Camino Del Rey water line, $25,000 for a water system monitoring program and $20,000 for the planned new district headquarters.

The new Thoroughbred Lane Lift Station and associated infrastructure is the only project in the $5,000,000 wastewater capital budget.