BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 Bakersfield City Council took the next step Wednesday night in a long-debated issue involving possible increases to sewer rates.<\/p>\n
Council members voted to authorize the city to mail out Proposition 218 notices to sewer customers. The notices would outline proposed rate increases and give property owners a chance to protest them.<\/p>\n
The proposed plan recommended by staff would raise single-family residential sewer fees over five years, starting at $475 a year in 2026 and increasing by $100 each year, ultimately reaching $875 by 2030.<\/p>\n
A city staffer explained the monthly breakdown during the meeting.<\/p>\n
“$465 would be $39.60 a month, $875 per annual it would be $72.90 per month,” the staffer said.<\/p>\n
Following a report on the proposal, Kern County Supervisor Philip Peters spoke during public comment, saying the report has not been made public yet and the county needs time to review it.<\/p>\n
“If these rates move forward, the county may be required to initiate its own Prop 218 process to pass those costs onto affected residents,” Peters said.<\/p>\n
Other residents raised concerns over how lower income families and those living on fixed incomes would be impacted, with one speaker offering a proposal.<\/p>\n
“You can take non-operating revenues, and you can take general funds and implement a rate assistance program to offset impacts,” the public speaker said.<\/p>\n
Council members agreed to look into a rate assistance program.<\/p>\n
“They may be seniors, they may be single moms, but I feel it’s our duty to do our research to see which programs we can create at the city,” Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur said.<\/p>\n
Under Proposition 218, property owners will have 45 days to submit a written protest or speak at a public hearing if they oppose the increase.<\/p>\n
City Council did not vote to approve any rate increases. The only action taken was authorizing the mailing of Prop 218 notices, starting the public protest process.<\/p>\n
The city says notices will go out later this month, with a formal public hearing scheduled for April 22.<\/p>\n
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n
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