Sue Stephenson's claim that the bonuses will probably not be awarded this year, doesn't alter the fact the Directors of DSRSD voted to pay up to 15% of already very high salaries to District managers for doing what they should be doing for their very high salaries.

Senior Managers at Dublin San Ramon Services District earn $150,000 a year and up. A 15% bonus could be between $20-30,000, which is more than some seniors receive in Social Security. Yet seniors have seen their sewer rates raised by almost $40 a year with the possibility that another $12 could be added to their bi-monthly water bills.

If these bonuses are not likely to be paid, then why approve them at all? Why even leave the possibility open for them? Why, if there's a surplus at the end of the year, wouldn't rate payers get a rebate or a credit towards next year instead of managers getting that money?

I questioned the timing of this bonus at the District's August 17th meeting. I was the only one to speak on this item, and practically the only resident attending this meeting. Too much of what goes on at DSRSD is under the covers. Why doesn't TV30 record meetings for replay on Channel 28 or 29? Residents should know how these decisions are being made.

When I ran for the District Board of Directors six years ago I proposed starting a fund to help seniors and low income residents. Even after I lost the election I went to the District and asked them to consider adding a voluntarily option for ratepayers to add a small amount to their bi-monthly bills to help low income residents. This would require setting up an accounting system for the contributions and working with a non-profit agency to administer the distributions based on an applicant's mean's test. Nothing has been done to help low income residents so far.

Because the District is a state agency and not a private company, rates must be kept the same for all users in the same tier. That means life-line rates cannot be offered to those who might need them. Electricity, gas, and telephone all have life-line rates based on need, but not water and sewer. How ridiculous is that?

This law needs to be changed, but that would require a ballot measure. I don't see any reason why such a measure wouldn't pass, but it would take a year or more before it could be on the ballot and even longer before it would help anyone.

So in the meantime the District or some other non-profit should come up with a way to supplement low income users to offset these rate increases. Senior managers don't need bonuses. Seniors on fixed incomes do.

I am running again for the Board of Directors of DSRSD. I invite the other candidates to join in this discussion.

I say pay them all a $125,000 bonus and give board members free healthcare insurance for life. Oh, and give Herb a raise too because the toilets flush without a problem...