Finances
The Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) was funded by contributions from member agencies until June 30, 2022. On Monday, July 25, 2022 the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) approved an ordinance authorizing the adoption of a groundwater sustainability fee. The fee will be assessed on all groundwater users in the Sonoma Valley.
Budget
The GSA Board of Directors must adopt its fiscal year budget 60 days before the end of the preceding fiscal year. The GSA maintains strict accountability of all funds and reports all receipts and disbursements on a bi-monthly basis. A certified public accountant audits the GSA annually.
Rate and Fee Study
The Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency was originally funded by its member agencies. In 2017, the GSA initiated a rate and fee study to explore other funding options. After receiving community input and initial feedback from the rate and fee consultants, the Board opted to complete the rate and fee study but to continue funding the GSA with member agency contributions through June 2022.
On July 25, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency approved an ordinance requiring the registration of groundwater use facilities, establishing a method for calculating groundwater use, and authorizing the adoption of a groundwater sustainability fee. For more information about the fee and the rate and fee study, go here.
Without a funding source, the GSA will fail to implement the recently adopted Groundwater Sustainability Plan, which could trigger state intervention in the basin.