Voters Defeat Controversial Storm Water Utility Proposal

In the May 9th election, a majority of voters voted against a controversial proposal to transfer storm water utility rate-setting control to the El Paso City council.

Voters defeated the proposal 65% to 35%, leaving the utility under the control of the Public Service Board (PSB).

“Thank you for having the confidence in the PSB and El Paso Water Utilities to continue managing the Stormwater Utility. We will not let you down,” said Ed Archuleta, the CEO of El Paso Water Utilities.

Opponents, however, felt the storm water utility lacked accountability, and proposed that the city council’s elected officials should run it.

The city ran the utility before the flooding of Storm 2006 revealed massive problems with El Paso’s drainage system.