Article 3. Expenses Of Reference of California Water Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.

In acting pursuant to this chapter the board shall not be entitled to any fee for its services but shall be paid or reimbursed the total expense incurred by it, including salaries, wages, traveling expenses, and all costs of whatsoever character which are properly chargeable to the reference.

If the funds available for use by the board are inadequate to permit it to advance the expense of a reference, or if in its opinion the payment of the expense of any reference is not reasonably certain, the board shall refuse to undertake a reference unless and until adequate provision is made by the parties and approved by the court for the payment of the expenses.

During the pendency of any reference, upon motion of the board and upon a hearing by the court after at least 10 days' notice to the parties, the court may order such interim or partial payments of the expense to be made by the parties as it deems proper and equitable under the circumstances.

The total expense shall be equitably apportioned by the board against the parties to the suit, and a statement thereof and of the apportionment shall be sent by registered mail by the board to the parties and filed with the court.

Upon application in writing by any party aggrieved within 30 days after the statement of final expense and its apportionment has been mailed to the parties, the court shall after expiration of that period set a hearing for the determination of any objections to the expense of the reference or to the apportionment thereof. The clerk of the court shall, at least 10 days prior to the date of hearing, give notice thereof by mail to all parties.

Any party failing to object to the expense of a reference or the apportionment thereof is conclusively deemed to have waived all objection thereto.

If no objection is filed with the court within the prescribed period, the court upon ex parte application of the board shall enter a judgment against the parties in favor of the board in the amounts apportioned to them.

Upon the hearing of objections to the expense or the apportionment thereof the court shall determine the expense and its apportionment as the court deems equitable and shall enter judgment against the parties in favor of the board in the amounts apportioned to them.