The Santa Clara County Water District received $44.1 million in federal stimulus money for a number of flood protection and water recycling projects. Of the funding, $18 million will go to the Lower Silver Creek flood-protection program to protect land adjacent to the creek from flooding. Another $12.5 million will be used to build two new bridges—one for cars and one for trains—over downtown San Jose’s Guadalupe River, also part of the county’s flood-protection program.
This project is also expected to improve the quality of water in the river and offer recreational benefits.
The third major project is the South Bay Water Recycling Advanced Treatment Facility Project, which will receive $8 million to improve the quality of recycled water not used in drinking. An additional $1 million will be used to increase the tidal flow in Alviso Slough in order to maintain the channel and increase the water’s salinity.
As a bonus, the new projects should provide a boost to employment in the county. According to estimates, forty jobs are created for each million dollars invested.
Read More at the Mercury News.
Read More at the San Jose Business Journal.
I was just reminded that the Water District owes local taxpayers tens of millions of dollars as a result of a court ruling regarding water extraction fees.
Seems the District has been charging us an unapproved fee for many years. Does anyone know when we can expect the refunds? I believe it amounts to nearly $200 per household.
According to estimates, forty jobs are created for each million dollars invested.
I am so sick of people, especially politicians, taking these voodoo economic predictions as gospel. Sure, maybe, and I emphasize maybe, a few low end temporary jobs might get created, but I seriously doubt 1,760 jobs will be created.