WATER WARS:

After months of speculation and often emotionally charged
hearings, the Goleta Water District voted unanimously to place the
burden of water rate hikes on urban dwellers, rather than the
initially proposed farming and agricultural operators. The vote
effectively exchanged a planned 4 percent rate hike for farmers,
businesses, and households alike with a 4.5 percent increase
shouldered only by urbanites. Beginning on July 1, Goleta
households can expect a water bill increase of approximately $2 per
month, though homes using less than 2,992 gallons per month will be
exempt.