A statewide tax on drinking water is being considered. (Getty Images)
The vast majority of Californians are fortunate enough to take access to clean drinking water for granted. However, the fact that some Californians in small, rural communities do not have this access is a travesty in this modern day and age. It can and must be fixed as an urgent state priority.
Resolving this unacceptable situation will come at a high price. Thankfully, the state government can draw on existing funding sources to ensure access to clean water for every California resident. This funding can be made available through ongoing federal safe drinking water funds and voter-approved general obligation bonds, along with already proposed agricultural assessments related to nitrates in groundwater. Additionally, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of our record-breaking $130 billion state general fund could help get the job done.
Unfortunately, there are politicians who instead see this problem as an excuse to impose a statewide tax on drinking water. It’s been tried before. Currently being proposed by the Brown administration through a budget trailer bill, this tax would be a first, but it probably wouldn’t be the last. Other proposals to tax drinking water are […]
Full article: Why a tax on drinking water is wrong