Retiring Water Director Fultz Weighs In Before Stepping Down
I’m Bob Fultz, currently a Director of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD), but I’m speaking only for myself.
While I would very much enjoy a robust campaign discussing the future of our water district, I will not be running for re-election this November, having decided to retire from public life at the end of my term in December. I deeply value your trust and generous support in electing me to serve you these past 8 years.
I feel serving a term in public office is a serious social contract. Heavy in my decision is the uncertainty that if I ran and won re-election I would not be eligible or able to serve a full term, ending in December 2030. Therefore, in the best interests of our community and the SLVWD, I encourage others who wish to bring continuity of an independent voice and new perspectives to the Board to consider this opportunity. In this November election there are three seats — a critical majority. I fear that some declared candidates may only drag us backwards to a time when infrastructure and prudent finances were not priorities.
For the next few months, I’ll be actively pursuing new policies, keeping an eye on our District’s finances, and supporting the infrastructure projects underway — with more to come using the proceeds from another $16.5 million bond. Since I started on the Board, the District has borrowed almost $50 million, in addition to millions received in grants and spent from its annual surplus. After decades of neglect, I’m most proud that our District staff have stepped up and are driving infrastructure and operational innovations.
I’m also very happy that, with new staff leadership and financial modeling from Board President Bob Russ, the District finally has a long-term operating and capital plan that — if future Boards and staff maintain fiscal discipline — positions the District to implement the projects in its master plan. This model does what I’ve advocated for years: reduce the rate of growth in operating expenses and apply more of the net margin from water sales to urgently needed infrastructure. It’s finance 101, but it represents a real breakthrough.
There are three topics requiring close community scrutiny going forward.
First, the idea of merging with the Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) is dormant, not dead. There are people, including one SLVWD Director, who believe our shared aquifer needs unified management. That Director and one declared candidate both supported the merger effort after the 2020 election. Fortunately, the community came out in strong opposition — as did I — and the effort stopped. I believe a merger with any other district would put our local control and resources at risk.
Second, two current Directors appear to favor the use of herbicides, like glyphosate, in District watersheds, even though they ran on an “environmental” platform. District staff also appear to be in favor of herbicides. I do not support their use in our watershed, and I believe most of our community agrees. But all it will take is one more vote for the prohibition policy to turn into something more insidious — looking like prohibition, but with major loopholes allowing use.
Third, while there will be more rate increases, hopefully the new financial plan means rates won’t rise as rapidly as in the recent past. But it will be up to the community to insist that the District provide both operating AND capital budgets for the same term as any proposed rate increase. This is essential because once the District has the rate increase, they can spend the money any way they want. Past staff and Boards promoted rate increases as needed for infrastructure, then spent the vast majority on operating costs — a bait and switch. Please vote against any rate increase that does not provide this level of financial transparency.
Ask SLV Water District Candidates
- Do you support a merger with any other agency, including Scotts Valley Water District? Will you promise to vote against any effort to even investigate such a merger?
- Do you support the use of herbicides like glyphosate on District property? Will you promise to ensure the District’s Integrated Pest Management Plan has that prohibition with no loopholes that can be exploited to use herbicides?
- Will you commit to and promise to include an operating and capital budget of a duration that matches any future rate increase or special assessment so the community can see exactly how much of the rate increase is being applied to infrastructure improvements.
During the upcoming campaign, make sure every candidate makes a specific promise on each of these topics. Do not allow them to deflect or shrug off these important issues.
I am truly humbled and grateful for everything our community has given me and my family, and wish nothing but the best for our District and every one of us in the years ahead.
Bob Fultz, SLV Water District Director
Boulder Creek
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