Well, the well tax issue is a real pisser – that last post went way too viral. I’m sorry I told people to contact city clerk Debbie Presson, but my attempts to contact person or persons behind the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Association were unsuccessful. I figured that since Presson is in charge of city hall ( she approves the bookings), she might know what’s going on. But, she is apparently playing dumb-o. I got this message from Suzanne –
“I contacted D. Presson about this well tax saying we had not rec’d a notice or ballot; her reply is “I am unaware of the proposed well tax.” Can you post a copy of the notice you received?”
Oh there it was, that was my mistake – I called it a ‘tax’ and Suzanne repeated my question to Presson verbatim I assume and Presson won’t acknowledge that it’s a ‘tax’. Some people wouldn’t say ‘shit’ if they had a mouthful. See, it’s a ‘fee’. My bad!
But I’ll tell you what’s weird – I’d emailed and called VGSA when I got the notice – two days before the “information hearing”. I’d sent questions. I got no response until I posted that blog.
Good Morning Juanita,
Thank you for reaching out to the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Unfortunately the GSA does not have staff to respond to all of the inquiries they are receiving, I work for Butte County Department of Water and Resource Conservation and we’re trying to help the GSA respond to emails and phone calls along with our regular jobs.
All property owners within the Vina subbasin were mailed the Prop 218 information. It is proposed that a maximum fee be assessed of $3.09 per acre (prorated), regardless of the land use or water source, to fund the GSA and meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Information can be found on the Vina GSA website (www.vinagsa.org), but if you have additional questions please feel free to call me at my office, 530-552-3595.
Thank you,
Autum Thomas, Administrative Analyst, III, Butte County Department of Water & Resource Conservation
There it is, this is coming from Butte County. The county can’t raise this fee without either a petition from the voters, or a group of landlowers has to form the district. The county wants the fee, but they’d have to put it on the ballot. So they’ve asked farmers to form these districts, both the Vina and Tuscan (Durham). That way, they get around the ballot, they can do these sneaky mailed ballots. If you don’t return it, it’s a YES vote. And get a load of this – bigger parcels get a bigger vote! And that includes the landowners who formed the district.
I’ve heard from three other households I know of who say they didn’t receive a ballot, and they admit they may have thrown it away. So I have to pay a tax because my neighbors are ill-informed? Wow, just like the sewer tax the city foisted on us at Christmas.
If you have not received your ballot, please contact Autum Thomas at 530-552-3595.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Juanita,
The Wyandotte Creek GSA will be holding their protest meeting on July 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM, at the Oroville City Council chambers. For any agency to suddenly say they are going to impose a “fee” for something on my property that has previously been free, sounds very much like a “tax”. Do you remember when Cal Fire implemented their SRA fee of $115 annually to anyone living in the rural fire areas? The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association took them to court and the fee (tax) was ended, however many people that paid the fee under protest were never refunded their money.
This is IMHO an unconstitutional tax and will only be defeated if those being taxed exercise their 1st Amendment freedoms to speak out against it. A majority opposed, will defeat this.
Respectfully,
Steve Jackson
Thank you Steve