The Coachella Valley Water District’s $102 per acre-foot rate for users of the Coachella Canal was an improper tax, and users who paid it should be refunded, the Court of Appeal ruled Jan. 31.
Their published ruling upholds Riverside Superior Judge Craig Riemer’s finding that the water district should pay out $18 million to its former ratepayers.
Follow Our Courts reached out to both the water district, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which brought the case, for comment. Neither organization had responded at publication time.
The water district had charged agricultural users $34 per acre-foot, and domestic users $102 per acre-foot, according to the
