CVSAN, Money Doesn’t Grows on Trees

Dear Editor,

The Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) spends our money like it grows on trees.

At the Board Meeting on September 5, the Board approved the General Manager’s new yearly employment contract for $272,960.10. This does not include benefits for health, dental, retirement, auto allowance, etc. The General Manager’s total compensation would be approaching $400,000 per year, to manage around 25 employees. There are no state officials making that kind of money. There are only a few federal officials that make that kind of money.   

At the same Board Meeting, the Board approved a Security System contract for the new Operations and Engineering Building at Center Street for $236,665.21.  

In the several months of constructing the Operations and Engineering Building, there have already been seven change orders totaling over $200,000. 

What started out as a $6,000,000 Corporation Yard to be funded from cash reserves, is now a $27,000,000 Operations and Engineering Building funded from a $14,000,000 recently Board approved 30-year Revenue Bond with debt service of over $700,000 per year, with the balance coming from cash reserves. I’m sure the change orders will keep coming.   

CVSan needs to be investigated for its handling of the ratepayer’s money that ratepayers unwillingly are forced to pay as Sewer Service Charges.

–Ken Owen, Castro Valley