Vista Irrigation District’s 2026 Budget represents a financial plan for the fiscal year (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). This financial plan includes controllable costs, which the District exercises discretion and cost control over, and uncontrollable costs, such as purchasing water, where the District cannot exercise cost control because the San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority), the region’s water wholesaler, sets the rates. The financial plan also contains costs that are essential to support the continued investment in infrastructure maintenance, repair and replacement.

District revenues are projected to increase by about 8% to $73.4 million, primarily as a result of the inclusion of the Water Authority’s pass-through rate increase as well as the District’s annual water rate adjustment effective on July 1, 2025.

District expenses are projected to increase by 14% to $65.4 million primarily due to the purchase of additional water and increased costs from the Water Authority, increased costs at the Escondido-Vista Treatment Plant, as well as inflation.

District capital expenditures are planned to be nearly $6.5 million with $6.4 million of that amount being spent on infrastructure improvements, including the replacement of pipelines, initial design work on a new reservoir and initial design work on a new flume.

The District plans to contribute approximately $1.4 million to its reserves this fiscal year to fund future capital projects.