BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 City staff were presented last night with multiple scenarios to fund wastewater infrastructure improvements worth roughly $1.3 billion. Proposals looked at various combinations of rate increases and bond financing.<\/p>\n
A 284% increase to $950 or a 92% increase to $475 \u2014 these are just two of the six scenarios proposed to city council to fund the major maintenance issues of wastewater treatment plant 2 on East Planz Road.<\/p>\n
Repairs are needed, but with the fast growth of Bakersfield, officials said an expansion and upgrade makes more sense than repairing the aging facility. Many community meetings were held to explain the city\u2019s needs and more meetings will be held to discuss the different proposals.<\/p>\n
Kern County Fire Dept. receives grant for new \u2018jaws of life\u2019 equipment <\/a><\/p>\n The city\u2019s current sewer rate is lower than most California cities at $239 per year or $19.92 per month.<\/p>\n The first increased rate scenario would raise the annual rates by 284% to $950 in year one, and increase 3% every year after, capping rates to a little over $1,000 per year.<\/p>\n This scenario would call for $180 million in bonds and an annual debt payment of $10 million.<\/p>\n There is one scenario that many councilmembers were interested in: Scenario five.<\/p>\n It includes no bonding, an annual increase of 92% to $475 dollars in the first year until reaching $1,135 in year seven.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first blush is I like that,\u201d said councilmember Bob Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cI do prefer the no bonding, or as little as possible bonding options. Those sound a lot more fiscally responsible to me,\u201d said councilmember Manpreet Kaur.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the right thing to do would be to not bond and put that on us,\u201d said councilmember Zack Bashirtash.<\/p>\n Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage <\/a><\/p>\n No decision was made on which scenario to go with. City staff said they hoped a plan could be chosen by January, with new rates going into effect July 1 of next year.<\/p>\n The next community meeting to talk about the wastewater facility is scheduled for Oct. 27.<\/p>\n Below are the six different scenarios pitched at Wednesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n Sewer Cost for Service-Rates<\/a>Download<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n