Joint Legislative Budget Committee Hearing Reveals Dangerous Lack of Oversight
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chair of the Legislature’s Delta Caucus, released the following statement today concerning the Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s Hearing on proposals to extend the State Water Project contracts.
“We must have a complete picture of the financial, economic and environmental impacts the state water project contract extensions will have. Not just today but for years to come. That information has not yet been provided. I have deep concerns about extending the expiration date of all of the contracts until December 31, 2085 – a 67-year extension which DWR could not adequately justify. The amendments also create a support fund which appears to hold the state responsible for unspecified expenditures not chargeable to the contractors, putting taxpayers on the hook for indeterminate future costs. Finally, under the terms of the contract extension, DWR would be able to hide the full costs of the damaging WaterFix proposal from ratepayers through financial manipulation that could treat the disruptive tunnels like a routine maintenance or repair project.
Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.
