The proposed tax on drinking water was introduced in 2017 by Sen. Bill Monning (SB 623).
Another $30 million would come from higher fees on agricultural and dairy businesses, industries whose chemicals contribute to the problem of contaminated groundwater.
Keep in mind, there’s money available from other sources — such as the state’s general fund — that could be used for contaminated groundwater remediation.
I said it was a very bad idea because it was the proverbial camel’s-nose-under-the-tent: It surely would be the first step towards more taxes on public drinking water.
They also plan to allocate $23.5 million from the general fund for various safe drinking water provisions as the legislative year is wrapped up shortly.
Their bungling in the library caper created a prodigious issue that resonates with voters throughout the county, but especially in the 3rd District which is headquarters for two extremely active “Friends of the Public Library” groups in Laytonville and Covelo..
It’s considered bad public policy when elected officials go out of their way to insult and vilify the very folks they appointed to serve as an advisory conduit to them.
Recently many people were disappointed that the Board of Supervisors approved the Cultural Services Agency, a new county department that combines the Library, County Museum and parks.
The supervisors made this move disregarding the advice of their advisory boards, the public and Friends of the Libraries.
Mendocino County’s current and past Board of Supervisors approved an asphalt plant in a flood plain, overly complex cannabis rules and a Cultural Services Agency without considering the effect on its people.

When the Jamaica Observer visited the St Catherine West Central community last Friday residents expressed that the issue has been a long-standing one that is costing some of them more than $60,000 per month.
“I pay $21,000 every nine days for water.
I have to buy three truckloads of water, each at $7,000, every nine days to fill five tanks in order to be comfortable and operate my business,” said Neville Grant of N&D Farms in Dover district, Kitson Town.
Others without the income suffer bad, and from time to time will turn up with their buckets and ask for water, and I help out as best as I can,” Grant said.
However, this improved the water situation for only some areas in Kitson Town.
Today, running water is still not a reality for several areas of Kitson Town — including districts like Fletcher, Dover, Cherry, Content, Cottage, and Long Hill — that are now bearing the burden of being without a constant supply of the essential commodity.
Sometimes you call the truck for days and it doesn’t come on time.
Frissilla Lindsay, who also resides in Fletcher district, said she has been living in the area for more than 20 years and for the majority of the period she has been without piped water.
“I was born in 1948 and growing up we had piped water, but we have to be buying it now and it’s so funny that now, in modern times, we are not better off.
From I use water and am told this is what I consume, I don’t have a problem paying [an NWC] bill,” she continued.