Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board approved the 2026–2027 budget, setting irrigated assessments at $6.25/acre (down from ~$16.50 last year) and non-irrigated at $0.08/acre, with lower assessments aided by cash on hand/carryover (including unused contingency). Growers criticized PrAGA Prop 26 billing for charging removed vineyards with credits but no refunds. The Fallow Land Registry was discussed as a potential centralized reporting tool; the website showed 1,787 in the registry as of the meeting date.
5,000 AF borrowed from DEID to delay a prorate through summer; September/October could get shaky. Bureau is expected to keep Friant Class 1 at 100%, but the 650,000 AF Edison April–July threshold could raise late-season risk. Spring monitoring found nitrate exceedances and TCP at Delano Well 30; Tulare Groundwater's nitrate review was non-conclusive, suggesting no clear SGMA link and no district mitigation expected based on current findings.
The board unanimously adopted the FY 2026-27 budget using conservative grant assumptions, removing unsecured state grants and reducing federal grant projections. An updated ADU ordinance was approved, tiering capacity fees by unit size. Under AB 2561, vacancy/turnover data was reviewed, while employees and SEIU cited compensation and workplace culture concerns, including being about 16% behind comparable agencies.
Groundwater monitoring found two southern basin wells below minimum thresholds in fall 2024, with eight more declining in the operational range. Basin storage fell 84,000 acre-feet (0.2%). The Authority is developing a groundwater accounting framework with GSA cluster meetings underway to compile surface water and pumping data.
The board approved a 2026 budget update based on a 45% SWP allocation, projecting a ~$50.4M budgeted loss offset by beginning cash and planned financing. It approved an Amarok electric guard fence pilot for 10 sites (~$115K/yr plus ~$70K repairs). The board reduced DCP interim funding participation from 20% to 7.5%, citing insufficient project details to justify higher commitment.
