Notice of Public Hearing
MISSION SPRINGS WATER DISTRICT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Mission Springs Water District (MSWD) will hold public hearings to consider proposed changes to MSWD's water and wastewater service rates and charges and to adopt ordinances increasing the existing rates and charges. The proposed rates are based on a Cost of Service Study ("Study") prepared by independent consultants, which is available for public review at MSWD offices. If approved, the proposed rate adjustments will be implemented as follows: February 17, 2026, reflected on statements issued after March 1, 2026 (year 1), January 1, 2027 (year 2), January 1, 2028 (year 3), January 1, 2029 (year 4), and January 1, 2030 (year 5) The Board will make its decision following the public hearings to be held: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 4 p.m., in the MSWD Boardroom located at 66575 Second Street, Desert Hot Springs, CA, 92240. All members of the public are invited to attend the public hearings and have an opportunity to speak, if so desired. All property owners as well as tenants who will be directly responsible for paying the rates and charges may submit a written protest and/or written legal objection.
Written protests must be submitted before the end of the public comment period of the public hearings and may be submitted in person or may be mailed or delivered to: Mission Springs Water District, Attn: Secretary of the Board, 66575 Second Street, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240. Verbal comments alone do not qualify as a formal protest. All property owners as well as tenants who will be directly responsible for paying the rates and charges may submit a written protest to the proposed rate changes; however, only one written protest per parcel will be counted when calculating a majority protest. An acceptable protest letter must contain the following: Protests must be in writing and specify the rate or charge being protested and include: Your name; parcel number and/or service address; and your signature. All written protests will be verified. If there is not a majority protest, the MSWD Board of Directors may adopt the proposed increased rates and charges.
Written legal objections must be received before October 17, 2025, at 4 p.m., and may be mailed or delivered to: Mission Springs Water District, Attention: Secretary of the Board, 66575 Second St., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240. Written legal objections must include the following information to be valid: Your name, parcel number and/or service address and signature; the letter must indicate that the submission is a legal objection; specify the rate or charge for which the objection is being submitted; specify the grounds for alleging Mission Springs Water District's noncompliance with Proposition 218. The specified grounds must be sufficiently detailed to allow MSWD to determine whether alterations to the proposed rates are needed. By way of example, an objection stating a proposed rate change violates Proposition 218, without explaining the basis for this claim, is insufficient for the purpose of exhaustion of administrative remedies. Failure to submit an objection on time will bar any right to challenge the fee or charge through a legal proceeding. All timely objections received will also be counted as a protest; however, only one written protest per parcel will be counted when calculating the majority protest. Objections submitted by email or other electronic means will not be accepted as formal written protests.
Written protests and objections will be treated as public records once opened.
For more information, or to obtain a copy of the Study, please go to www.mswd.org/rates, email PublicAffairs@MSWD.org, or call (760) 329-6448 x 145. A copy of the Ordinances will be made available prior to the public hearings.
September 28, October 5 2025
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