Three Valleys MWD extends General Manager contract through 2031 with $376k salary

Three Valleys MWD extends General Manager contract through 2031 with $376k salaryThe California water wholesaler's board unanimously approved a five-year employment agreement for Matthew H. Litchfield, incorporating enhanced retiree health benefits and annual cost-of-living adjustments.

The board voted 6-0 to approve the Fifth Amendment to Litchfield's employment agreement, extending his term to June 30, 2031.

Litchfield's base salary will increase to $376,826.02 effective July 1, 2026.

The updated contract removes a previous evergreen extension clause but adds a new retiree health benefit enhancement.

Future annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will be capped between 2% and 4%, tied to staff COLA rates.

The Three Valleys Municipal Water District (TVMWD) Board of Directors has unanimously approved a five-year contract extension for General Manager Matthew H. Litchfield, securing the agency's executive leadership through the end of the decade. Following a closed-session performance evaluation and labor negotiation on June 24, 2026, General Counsel Steve Kennedy announced a 6-0 vote in favor of the Fifth Amendment to Litchfield’s employment agreement. The extension establishes a new contract term date of June 30, 2031. Under the revised terms, Litchfield’s base salary will be adjusted to $376,826.02, effective July 1, 2026. The contract also outlines future compensation increases, guaranteeing annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) of at least 2%, but no more than 4%, based on the COLA provided to district staff. The board also restructured several of the General Manager's executive benefits. According to Kennedy, the board removed a previous "evergreen" extension provision from the contract and deleted the performance evaluation portion of the employment agreement. In exchange, the district is providing a retiree health benefit enhancement, which will also take effect on July 1. Kennedy noted that all other provisions of the agreement remain in effect. A fully integrated employment document will be brought before the board for open-session action when the district reconvenes from its summer recess at the beginning of September 2026.