Kelly J. Salt

Partner

Kelly Salt works with public agencies on bond and municipal finance matters, rate setting and compliance with Propositions 218 and 26, and drought management and water conservation programs. She is a partner in the Public Finance practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP, resident in the San Diego office.

Since joining BB&K in 2006, Kelly has worked as bond, disclosure and issuer’s counsel with numerous cities and public agencies on financing major public facilities through the issuance of certificates of participation, revenue, lease revenue, general obligation, assessment district and community facilities district bonds.

In addition, Kelly has assisted cities and special districts with the review of utility rate and fee studies and assessment engineering reports; the preparation of notices of public hearings for the adoption of fees, charges and assessments; the formation of assessment districts; and the establishment of new and increases to existing taxes, assessments, fees and charges. Her water conservation work includes preparing drought management and water conservation programs; preparing water efficient landscape ordinances; and developing water demand offset fees to mitigate the impacts of new development on water supplies.

Prior to joining BB&K, Kelly worked for the San Diego City Attorney’s Office for more than sixteen years and served as the primary attorney on bond finance matters for the City’s public works projects. These projects are as varied as the billion dollar expansion and reconstruction of the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure programs and the $169.6 million lease revenue financing for the construction of Petco Park. She was also the chief deputy city attorney of the City Attorney’s Office Public Works Section and supervised other attorneys on, among other issues, public works contracting and water, wastewater and solid waste regulatory compliance matters.

Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Kelly worked for the University of San Diego School of Law. At the law school she was an instructor and also served as the assistant dean for student affairs.

Kelly has been a featured speaker on public finance, Propositions 218 and 26, and water conservation matters at conferences throughout California. San Diego Magazine has repeatedly named her a Top Lawyer for public finance.

Education

• University of San Diego (USD), J.D.
• University of California at Santa Barbara, B.A., cum laude

Bar Admissions

• California

Memberships

• National Association of Bond Lawyers
• Committee on Assessments, Special Taxes and Other Financing Facilities, an organization of private professionals whose focus is on issues related to land secured financing matters in California
• League of California Cities, City Attorneys’ Department, Proposition 218 and Proposition 26 Committee
• Association of California Water Agencies, Legal Affairs Committee
• California Special Districts Association, Expert Feedback Team on Budget, Finance and Taxation

Kelly J. Salt

Partner

• “Water Conservation Pricing and Amendments to the California Constitution,” Orange County Water Summit, May 20, 2016
• "Adopting Conservation-Based Water Rates That Meet Proposition 218 Requirements," League of California Cities' City Attorney Spring Conference, May 4, 2016
• “Funding Stormwater Services Under Proposition 218,” California Water Environment Association Conference, April 26, 2016
• “Amending the Constitution to Provide Alternatives for Funding Stormwater, Flood Control, Water, and Sewer Services,” California State Association of Counties, April 7, 2016
• "Proposition 26, Proposition 218 & Rate Setting," CSDA, Feb. 9, 2016
• “Dealing With the Drought: State Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) Mandatory Water Consumption,” Law Seminars International, July 20, 2015
• “Prop. 218: The Future of Tiered Conservation Rates (San Juan Capistrano Case)," Argent Communications, June 15, 2015
• “Overcoming Public Scrutiny and Challenges in the Rate Setting Process – Lessons Learned from San Juan Capistrano,” ACWA Spring Conference, May 2015
• "Regulations For Small Systems," ACWA Special Webinar Series, May 26, 2015
• “Water Conservation: Best Practices and Dealing with the Financial Impacts of Successful Conservation,” The Seminar Group, May 15, 2015
• "Proposition 26, Proposition 218 and Rate Setting," CSDA, April 22, 2015
• “Retail Utility Drought Response - What Works and Plans for 2015,” California Department of Water Resources/Southern California Water Committee/National Water Research Institute Program, Feb. 25, 2015
• “Overview of Debt Financing... So Many Moving Pieces,” California Society of Municipal Finance Officers’ Annual Conference, Feb. 19, 2015
• “Pricing the Way Through a Water Shortage,” The Seminar Group’s Dealing in Drought Seminar, Oct. 30, 2014
• “Propositions 218 and 26 Keeping You Awake at Night? Setting Utility Rates without Counting Sheep,” American Water Works Association California-Nevada Section’s Annual Fall Conference, Oct. 22, 2014\
• “Rate Setting and the Role of Attorneys and Public Officials in Reviewing Cost of Service and Rate Studies for Compliance with Propositions 218 and 26,” California Special Districts Association Annual Conference, Oct. 1, 2014
• “Special Assessment Districts: Approaches for Achieving Successful Outcomes,” California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission/University of California, Davis Extension Seminar, Sept. 18, 2014
• “Funding Stormwater with Water and Sewer Fees,” California Stormwater Quality Association 2014 Conference, Sept. 15, 2014

Kelly J. Salt

Partner

• "Taxpayer Group Faults Water Rates Notices," The Stockton Recorder (April 19, 2016)
• “Structuring Tiered Water Rates Under Conflicting Court Decisions: Interpreting the California Constitution,” Journal AWWA (January 2016)
• “Technical Assistance Memorandum Funding Stormwater Programs under Proposition 218,”League of California Cities (May 22, 2014) (Co-Author)
• “How a [Property-Related Fee] Becomes a [Reality],” Daily Journal (Nov. 8, 2013) (Author)
• “Court of Appeal Finds Groundwater Augmentation Charges are Water Service Fees and Charges and Are Not Subject to Voter Approval Requirements of Proposition 218,” California Water Law and Policy Reporter, Vol. 24, No. 3 (2013) (Author)
• “Proposition 218 Guide for Special Districts,” California Special Districts Association (2013 Edition) (Author)
• “Proposition 26: Local Agency Guidelines for Compliance,” Association of California Water Agencies (2011 Edition) (Editor and Contributor)
• “Proposition 26 Implementation Guide,” League of California Cities (2011 Edition) (Contributor)
• “Ballot Initiative Impacting Local Government Revenues,” California Special District Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 4 (July-August 2011) (Author)
• “The Impacts of Proposition 26 on Local Governments: Broader definition of tax makes it harder for local governments to charge fees,” The Public Law Journal, Vol. 34 No. 1 (Winter 2011) (Author)
• “Historic Water Legislation: New Opportunities, Challenges for Public Agencies,” The Public Law Journal, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Spring 2010) (Co-Author)
• “California Water Crisis: Meeting the Challenge,” The Public Law Journal, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Winter 2010) (Co-Author)
• “Water Conservation Made Legal: Water Budgets and California Law,” AWWA Journal (April 2009) (Co-Author) 
• “Developing Conservation-Based Water Rate Structures in Compliance with Proposition 218,” California Water Law and Policy Reporter, Vol. 19, No. 2 (2008) (Author)