The Amador Water Agency board of directors last Thursday approved an $8.6 million operating budget along with $17 million in capital expenses and approved a rate hike for a Camanche district.

Finance Services Manager Michael Lee presented the budget, with an operations cost estimate up 7 percent from the the current fiscal year, while the capital improvement budget is up 35 percent from this year.

“The five Upcountry Central Amador Water Project Improvement Districts have been consolidated as the CAWP Retail Water System in the agency’s fiscal year 2005-2006 consolidated budget,” Lee said. The budget also “includes three new full-time positions and a part-time administrative position in the human resources area. The budget also assumes a long-term commitment to operate the city of Plymouth’s water and wastewater facilities.”

The three new full-time jobs are electrician, utility 1 and systems 1 positions.

Revenue projections include $6.3 million in water and wastewater sales, up 9 percent and $2.4 million generated in assessments, standbys, interest, tax revenue and transfers.

Operating expenses include $3.7 million in salaries and benefits, up 7.5 percent; $2.3 million in system operation and maintenance, up 11.9 percent; $905,425 in administrative expense; and $1.1 million in debt service.

Capital revenue is estimated at $17.6 million, from participation fees, loans and project reserve funds.

Capital project budgets:

• Amador Water System projects totaling $12.7 million, including $10 million for a pipeline and $1.3 million for land acquisition for settling ponds at the Tanner facility. Other work includes fire hydrant replacement, Tanner building maintenance, a fence for the Trent tank and temporary canal improvements.

• $2.2 million for Central Amador Water Project work, including $1.4 million to design and build a gravity supply line, various work at the Buckhorn plant, new pressure relief valves, repair and recoating a tank and upgrade of a backwash line and pond.

• $241,510 budgeted for Camanche ID No. 7, with work including treated water storage, Well No. 9A design and construction and surface water supply.

• Pioneer ID No. 1’s budget is $72,645 and includes fire hydrant replacements, repair and recoating “Tank A” and fencing for the Ridgeway Pines tank.

• General agency budget of $14,920 will go to landscaping upgrades at the administration building, ID No. 2.

• La Mel ID No. 3 has a $307,158 budget for system improvements in its well, tank and distribution.

• Pine Acres ID No.4’s budget is $81,140 for fire hydrant replacement, distribution main replacement and a “Tank B” liner.

• Silver Lake ID No. 5 has a $95,395 budget for two “blow-off installations,” a tank liner, roof recoating and “RTU” for two tanks.

• Buckhorn East ID No. 6 has $16,48 for a new hydrant, blow-offs and valve improvement and a blow-off installation.

• Camanche Wastewater No. 11 has $505,735 for short-term improvements of $185,520, liquid chlorine conversion for $11,090 and a facility study shared with East Bay Municipal Utilities District for $309,130.

• Martell Wastewater ID No. 12’s budget is $552,475 with work including a regional wastewater plan implementation for $232,875 and treatment capacity purchase for $263,780.

• All wastewater systems’ budget, $304,585, includes leachfield and filter bed implementation at Gayla Manor, work at Pine Grove, 10 new pressure leachfield replacements and an Eagles Nest leachfield.