Water security touches every part of life in the Coastal Bend. It matters to the family turning on the faucet, the small business opening its doors, our schools and hospitals, and the employers whose investments support thousands of local jobs.

For more more than a decade, the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce has advocated for reliable and affordable water supplies that can withstand drought. That commitment is why we oppose Proposition B on the ballot.

Reliable Water Needs Reliable Funding

Participating industrial water customers currently pay an additional fee throughout the year. They pay it during drought and when drought conditions ease. The City projects that this program will generate approximately $6 million in fiscal year 2026.

Proposition B would require the City to end that program following a transition period. It would replace the existing fee with mandatory surcharges during certain drought stages on water use above specified limits.

That creates a serious concern. Funding would depend on drought conditions and qualifying water use rather than a consistent contribution throughout the year. The replacement program offers no certainty that it would generate the same revenue.

Our community needs to plan and invest before the next water emergency. Reliable funding helps make that possible.

Conservation Must Be Part of a Bigger Plan

Conservation is essential. But conservation alone cannot provide all the water our growing region needs.

We need a comprehensive strategy that develops additional supplies while making responsible use of the water we already have. That means pursuing desalination and groundwater alongside water reuse and other viable options.

The Chamber has consistently supported the Inner Harbor Desalination Project as part of that broader approach. Our focus remains on practical projects that strengthen our water supply for the future.

The Stakes Reach Every Household

Water infrastructure requires sustained investment. If a funding source falls short, the need for that infrastructure remains.

That is why this conversation reaches far beyond industrial water customers. Families and small businesses depend on the same regional water system. We all have a stake in its reliability and financial stability.

The Chamber supports responsible stewardship and affordability. We also believe sound water policy must preserve dependable funding and give our community room to respond as conditions change.

Proposition B introduces uncertainty at a time when we need progress.

Our water future is too important to gamble with. The United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce urges voters to vote NO on Proposition B on November 3.

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