Bob Fultz Response to Question #5:

5.  Over the last decade, the SLV Water District absorbed the Felton and Lompico Water Districts and declined to merge with the Scotts Valley Water District. The Bracken Brae and Forest Springs Water Districts in Boulder Creek are in final stages of negotiation to merge with SLVWD. Do you think the District has an obligation to also merge with the Big Basin Water Company? Why?

I believe that everyone in the greater SLVWD area is entitled to water security.  I believe in the strength of a local special district being focused on the specific needs of its local community—and not consolidating with other districts like Scotts Valley whose needs are quite different from ours.  I also believe in organizations engaging in voluntary transactions.  If the owners of the Big Basin Water District would like to consolidate into SLVWD, then I am prepared to support that.  However, any contemplated consolidation will require significant infrastructure upgrades.  If these upgrades are beyond the financial capacity of the Big Basin community to absorb themselves, and I believe that very likely, then we will need to look to grant funding to make such a transaction happen.  Because this transaction must happen at zero cost to the current SLVWD community.  I have held these positions since the introduction of this topic and I promise I will continue to do so in the future.