This case raises the issue of whether a water rate increase, properly adopted under the majority protest procedures in Prop. 218, is subject to referendum.  CSAC’s amicus brief takes the position that fees that fund the operation of local government are exempt from the referendum process, and subjecting property-related fees to referendum is inconsistent with Prop. 218.  The brief was drafted by Daniel Hentschke, former General Counsel to the San Diego County Water Authority, and Kelly Salt at Best Best & Krieger in San Diego.