Raftelis to review RMWD water rate setting process

Raftelis Financial Consultants will be part of the process to determine how the Rainbow Municipal Water District sets its water rates.

A 5-0 Rainbow board vote April 28 approved a $63,006 contract with Raftelis, which is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. but has offices in Los Angeles and Murrieta.

"It's a process we need to go through every five years," said Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy. "That's kind of a standard process that we go through."

If water rates are based on the cost of service, a water agency is exempt from the public vote required for a public agency to raise taxes or fees...