The West Sacramento City Council meets Nov. 19 at City Hall. The council on Wednesday approved utility rate increases for water and sewer fees.
Ishani Desai
idesai@sacbee.com
West Sacramento residents’ water and sewer utility fees will increase and for some could nearly double under new rates approved unanimously this week by the city council and which will go into effect starting next month.
The city has not raised prices since 2021 after a rate study was conducted nearly 10 years ago, according to city officials. However, the pipes, pumps and other machinery — inherited from Yolo County after the city incorporated in 1987 — require replacement, said Rebecca Scott, the director of public works operations and maintenance director.
Economic downtowns and hardships wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic led city officials to pause raising rates, which typically happen every five years, said City Manager Aaron Laurel.
Now, the network of pipes is reaching a critical point, officials said. Proposed infrastructure projects could cost more than $93 million and $44 million for water and sewer utilities, respectively.
“We understand that probably the hardest city councils anywhere are asked to do are things like this,” Laurel said. “Raising people’s rates, impacting people’s budgets — we get that it’s a very difficult thing.”
A majority of West Sacramento residents pay a $24.61 fixed monthly cost for a 3/4-inch meter size. That fee will rise steadily to reach $48.29 by 2030.
A ratepayer is currently charged $2.43 for every hundred cubic feet of water.
This consumption rate will rise to $3.31 by 2030.
Sewer utility rates will nearly quadruple by 2030. Under the scheduled sewer rate increases, a single-family customer currently paying a $10.88 fixed monthly charge will see that rise to $38.33 by 2030. Ratepayers classified as multifamily will see fixed rate for sewer charges rise from $8.16 this year to $26.13 in 2030.
The George Kristoff Water Treatment Plant processed about 11 million gallons of water per day to about 55,000 West Sacramento residents.
The council acknowledged the burden of higher rates, but said there were few alternatives.
“I know it’s going to be a hardship,” said West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. “I know it’s going to be challenging.”
The new rates will be effective April 1.
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Ishani Desai is a government watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously covered crime and courts for The Bakersfield Californian.