For immediate release
June 15, 2015 
Contact: Tom Kennedy General Manager
760-728-1178 tkennedy@rainbowmwd.com  

Transparency Certificate of Excellence Awarded to Rainbow Municipal Water District 
Fallbrook, CA — The Rainbow Municipal Water District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance. 

"This award is a testament to Rainbow Municipal Water District's commitment to open government," said Tom Kennedy, General Manager. "The entire district staff is to be commended for their contributions that empower the public with information and facilitate engagement and oversight." 

In order to receive the award, a special district must demonstrate the completion of eight essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all board members, properly conducting open and public meetings, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner. 
The Rainbow Municipal Water District also fulfilled fifteen website requirements, including providing readily available information to the public, such as board agendas, past minutes, current district budget, and the most recent financial audit. 
Finally, the district must demonstrate outreach to its constituents that engages the public in its governance, through a regular district newsletter and community transparency reviews. 

The Rainbow Municipal Water District is organized into three operational functions of Administration, Water, and Sanitation and is at the end of a vast and expensive water delivery system that stretches hundreds of miles. This system takes water from where it is more plentiful in the Rocky Mountains and Northern California, and brings that water to Southern California through a series of aqueducts, serving over 7,200 meters to portions of Fallbrook, Pala and Bonsall. 

SDLF is an independent, non-profit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California's special districts through certification, accreditation and other recognition programs. 

Special districts are independent public agencies that deliver core local services to communities, such as water, fire protection, parks and recreation, healthcare, sanitation, mosquito abatement, ports, libraries, public cemeteries and more. Districts are established by voters in order to meet specific needs through focused service. They can be specially molded to serve large regions or small neighborhoods depending on the need.