Rainbow Municipal Water District

Campaign Related Communications at Public Expense

Fine: $7,000

FPPC No. 16/238

The Rainbow Municipal Water District (“District”) provides water and sanitation services to the unincorporated communities of Rainbow and surrounding areas. The District used mailers to oppose a Local Agency Formation Commission (“LAFCO”) proposal seeking to merge the District with Fallbrook Public Utility District, causing them to qualify as an Independent Expenditure Committee. The District failed to timely file two semiannual campaign statements, in violation of Government Code Section 84200 (1 count); sent a mass mailing featuring a governmental official, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 and Regulation 18901 (1 count); and sent the mass mailing at the publics expense, opposing the LAFCO proposal, in violation of Government Code Section 89001 and Regulations 18901.1 and 18420.1 (1 count).