ORS 545.471 Charges for water supply; rates; collections and disbursements; basis of charges

For the purpose of defraying the expenses of the organization of the district, and of the care, operation and management, repair and improvement of the portions of the canals and works that are completed and in use, including salaries of officers and employees, the board shall fix charges for irrigation and other public uses. The board, by resolution, may provide for collecting the charges from all persons using the canals for irrigation and other purposes, and may require the collection to be made by the secretary of the board and disbursed by the secretary on order of the board.

The board may designate the time and manner of making the collections of charges, may require them to be paid in advance of the delivery of water and may accept short-term interest-bearing notes for any portion of the charges. In establishing its charges, the board may consider the quantity of water to be delivered, the acres of land entitled to benefits from the district, the establishment of uniform or graduated rates and minimum charges, the imposition of additional charges for special services and for small tracts or other properties which require proportionately greater maintenance and operation and other factors the board considers reasonable and appropriate. The board may base its charges upon any or all of the factors set forth in this subsection.

In addition to the charges authorized under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the board may pass on charges against individual water users when the district incurs charges, fees, fines or similar expenses for extraordinary services performed by the district at the request of the water user or that are incurred by reason of some action or failure to act by the water user.