12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 25-JULY 1, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com With projections that California’s prison population will decline each year until 2030 and to reduce spending by roughly $150 million annually, the state’s Legislative Analyst Office has suggested closing an additional prison. One of the prime candidates for closure, according to the LAO, is the Soledad Correctional Training Facility. “In our analysis of the Governor’s 2026-27 budget proposals for CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation), we found that the state is on track to have enough excess prison capacity to close an additional state prison,” says LAO Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst Caitlin O’Neil. She added that the Correctional Training Facility is “a strong candidate for closure.” “This was for four primary reasons,” O’Neil says. “First, unlike many prisons, CTF does not fulfill a unique function within the prison system—such as providing specialized health care services—that would be difficult or costly to relocate.” The CTF, approximately four miles north of Soledad, has existed on the property in various forms since the late 1940s, and “does not have modern housing facilities, which are generally considered safer and more flexible to house a wide range of populations as they offer greater visibility for officers,” O’Neil adds. Third, she notes that CTF is not located near hospitals where people could be transported to receive specialized care, and that it is not equipped to house people who require higher levels of mental health care. Lastly, the aging facility has “high identified infrastructure needs.” California’s budget bill, Assembly Bill 109, which has been approved by both houses of the State Legislature and is still waiting on approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom, states that, “the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall select a prison for closure and notify the chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee of its choice no later than Nov. 1, 2026. The department shall close the selected prison by the end of the 2027-28 fiscal year. The department shall not undertake facility improvements at any prison that is a candidate for closure.” Although the LAO recommends closing CTF, the budget bill includes a roughly $1 million infrastructure project for a new potable water well at the facility, so whether it will actually be sentenced for closure in the budget bill’s final form remains to be seen. Costs are rising for Monterey One Water (M1W), a public utility that provides wastewater treatment for 285,000 residents in northern Monterey County, treating about 17 million gallons daily. Energy costs are going up, aging infrastructure needs improvements, and regulatory requirements related to equipment and operations are compounding. As a result, M1W is proposing a five-year increase in monthly service charges, with rates rising up to 8 percent annually in years two and three, and 9 percent in years four and five. The proposed increases would affect roughly 63,000 residential and commercial customers and are scheduled for a vote by the M1W board at 6pm on Monday, June 29. If approved, the new rates would take effect July 1. “We have about $1.5 billion worth of infrastructure out there…and about a $540 million capital expenditure plan over the next 10 years,” said Paul Sciuto, executive director of M1W, at a public information session on June 3. “That is much of what’s driving our entire budget.” Proposed monthly wastewater rates are fixed but vary significantly by customer class. For occupied residences, rates would increase from $54 to $57.27 monthly for fiscal year 2026-27, regardless of home size or occupancy. Vacant homes are a separate class, with rates set to rise from $32.60 to $35.95. Sciuto explained the agency evaluated alternative models, like charging based on the number of fixtures in a home or square footage, but found this was not legally permissible under California law. Commercial customers vary widely depending on use. For example, restaurant charges are based on meals per day per seat, while hotels are per room. Hotel rates will increase from $21.65 to $23.33 per room, while other businesses, like nightclubs, are charged a flat rate that would rise from $238.40 to $247.09 per month. Under Proposition 218, customers have until 6pm on June 29 to file a protest to the increase. If more than half oppose it, it would not go into effect. Verdict Out To cut costs, state legislative office suggests closing a Soledad prison. By Aric Sleeper NEWS UP TO CODE Salinas City Councilmember Gloria De La Rosa will be joined by officials from the police department and code enforcement during a District 4 community meeting. Learn about public safety and code enforcement efforts. 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, June 25. Laurel Wood Elementary School multipurpose room, 645 Larkin St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7019, salinas.gov. HEALTHY SUMMER Interim, Inc. hosts its Summer Wellness Fair. Various agencies will be on hand to share information on programs and services, along with snacks, games and more. 10am-2pm Friday, June 26. 617 Bayonet Circle, Marina. Free. (831) 800-7530, ext. 461, jshaw@interiminc. org. IN THE PUBLIC Salinas City Council meets to discuss city business. Public comment is accepted. 4pm Tuesday, June 30. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7381, cityofsalinas. org. ART FOR ALL Help guide the creation of artwork at Marina’s upcoming all-inclusive playground. The public is invited to a meeting to learn about the playground and future artwork. 6-7:30pm Tuesday, June 30. Rocky Han Community Center gymnasium, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 884-1253, cityofmarina.org/1387/AllInclusive-Playground. FLOOD ZONE Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency hosts a forum on flood risk reduction projects for Pajaro and Watsonville. The public is invited to provide feedback. 6pm Tuesday, June 30. Pajaro Middle School multipurpose room, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. (831) 535-3788, prfma.org. CREEK CLEANERS Monterey Waterkeeper seeks volunteers for weekly cleanups at Gabilan Creek. Learn about local watersheds as you clean up trash. 3:30-4:30pm Wednesday, July 1. 1900 Independence Blvd., Salinas. Free. (831) 601-3962. RSVP at montereywaterkeeper.org/events. PUBLIC PROCESS Monterey-Salinas Transit seeks comments on its draft Public Participation Plan. The federally-mandated document outlines how MST includes the public in its decision-making process. Comments due 5pm Friday, Aug. 7. (831) 264-5917, bit.ly/ MSTPublicParticipation. Wallet Watch Monterey One Water proposes increases to monthly rates to begin July 1. By Katie Rodriguez The Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad currently houses 4,255 inmates, over the 2,800-person design capacity, according to CDCR reports. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “CTF does not fulfill a unique function within the prison system.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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