The most expensive walk in America.

Water Politics

OK get you Fitbit or other step counter on, we are going to walk one of the most expensive walks in America. Talk is out once again about Northern California's Delta Tunnels also known as the Periphery Canal. There has been some controversy lately because of an interpretation of the original plans of the State Water Project (I'll talk more about that in a later post) in light of the Jarvis-Gann Initiative more commonly known as Proposition 13.

Proponents of the project say that the tunnels are just an add-on to the original project and was covered under pre-Prop 13 laws and therefore should not have to go before the voters. The project its self will originate near the Freeport intake ducts located on the Sacramento river just south of the state capitol. Tunnels will terminate at the Banks Intake Pumps just south of the Discovery Bay development (see vertical green line on the map below). Each tunnel is expected to pump 75,000 gallons of water per second from the Sacramento River. It is estimated that the cost to Santa Clara Valley Water District customers could be about 6% of the project or upwards of $1.8 Billion.

If we assume about 2,000 steps per mile;  a final cost of $30 Billion, and a project length of 35 miles we can expect each "step" of the project to be worth about $428 Million ($30,000,000,000/35)/2,000 =  $428,571.




Additional Reading:

Mercury News Editorial - March 28, 2016

Mercury News - July 22, 2014 - Property Taxes could pay for $25 Billion Tunnels without public vote.

Mercury News - March 28, 2016 - Gov. Brown's $17 bilion Delta tunnels plan faces new hurdle -- a leading taxpayers organization.

Special Districts- Last Week Tonight

Government - Sports for Nerds

If any of you saw the John Oliver Last Week Tonight Show on March 6, 2013 he highlighted what he referes to as Shadow Governments; that is Special Districts. These are taxing authorities that typically provide one specialized service such as flood control, vector control, drinking water, specialized infrastructure such as marine or aero ports. As John Oliver points out the degree of interest is so minor that one Mosquito Control District in Litchfield, New Hampshire broadcast a meeting with the only two board members and without anyone from the public attending the meeting

Here is the follow up meeting on March 17 where at 1:05 they briefly describe their sudden fame and seeing themselves on national TV. Being humble New Englanders they thank John Oliver for helping them to further educate the residents of New Hampshire after a brief recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.






The John Oliver segment has an interview with Christopher Berry who has written about the rise of special district. I just got hold of a copy and will be reading it shortly. I will also  be posting some maps in the near future that I hacked highlighting special districts such as water districts, school districts, storm water districts, as well as municipal utility districts.

Recently the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a $400 million public agency that provides water to 1.9 million people fired their CEO after some questionable business practices.  The district is overseen by a 7 member district board of directors, or almost 1 representative for almost 300,000 residents. In most cases candidates receive about 50,000 out of that possible 300,000.


Here is an article regarding Sting Ray, Inc. voter-renting services that John Oliver talks about at 9:18.

Former Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen talks about his findings at 1:46 and 12:00. Here is his report: Ghost Goverment - A Report on Special Districts in Kentucky (pdf).

River City News - Auditor Finds $2.7 Billion in Ghost Government in Kentucky

Mercury News - Six Candidates Running for Santa Clara County District Board