Proposed Groundwater Sustainability Agency Fee for FY 2027

Important Links: Proposition 218 Notice (PDF) | Cost of Service Study (PDF) | Letter from CGSA Executive Director (PDF)

The Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency (CGSA) is committed to protecting and sustainably managing the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin and recognizes the Basin as one of our community’s most important resources. As part of this effort, CGSA has issued a Proposition 218 Notice to inform property owners about a proposed update to the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) pumping fee for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

CGSA’s Board of Directors will hold a public hearing to consider the proposed fee change on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m. at Carpinteria City Hall. Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide input.

CGSA was formed in 2020 to comply with the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Since that time, CGSA has:

Adopted a Sustainable Groundwater Management Plan (approved by the California Department of Water Resources in December 2023)
Monitored groundwater levels, water quality, and seawater intrusion
Developed and maintained a groundwater basin model
Conducted outreach and education
Implemented a well registration and metering policy
These activities maximize the long-term sustainability of the groundwater basin and require dedicated funding. The proposed fee supports CGSA’s FY 2027 budget and the ongoing implementation of sustainable groundwater management activities.

Fiscal Year: Fee per Acre-Foot
FY 2026 (Current): $79.00
FY 2027 (Proposed): $120.00

The proposed FY 2027 rate is based on a detailed Cost of Service Study that calculates fees according to estimated groundwater extraction, ensuring that groundwater users pay fees proportional to their use.

In 2025, CGSA mailed individualized notices to property owners showing how their estimated groundwater use was calculated. Property owners had an opportunity to verify crop and land‑use information, request corrections, submit documentation showing no groundwater use, and provide metered data or water bills from other water purveyors.

Please see the Proposition 218 notice linked at the top of this article or the printed copy mailed to you for additional details regarding the proposed fee and public hearing.

For questions about the proposed fee, the Cost-of-Service Study, or the public hearing process, please call (805) 600-4871 or visit carpgsa.org.

CGSA es bilingüe. Para información en español, llame a la oficina al 805‑684‑2816.