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CARLSBAD: Council considers water, sewer fee increases
By BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer | ∞
CARLSBAD ---- The City Council will take another look Tuesday at a proposal to raise both water and wastewater fees.
Council members were to vote on the proposal in September, but decided to hold off, saying they wanted more information before they could make a decision. Now, they have an expanded city staff report to review.
The report states that most of the proposed cost increases are due to factors outside the city's control. In particular, the region's main supplier --- the San Diego County Water Authority ---- has raised its rates.
The Carlsbad Municipal Water District is passing along that higher cost, along with other extra expenses.
Under the proposed fee increases, the per-unit water cost would increase from $1.76 to $2.12. An average single-family would see its monthly water rate increase from $45.56 to $54.82.
Meanwhile, the monthly sewer expenses would increase by 9 percent, or from $16.20 to $17.65.
If the higher fees are approved Tuesday, they would go into effect in January.
The cost increases would only apply to about 85 percent of the city, or the area served by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District. Folks who live in southern Carlsbad are served by either Olivenhain Municipal Water District or Vallecitos Water District.
All three districts are in the process of raising rates.
Carlsbad, like most of the county, gets its drinking water from the Colorado River and Northern California. Statewide drought conditions plus new environmental protection measures have caused the regional price increases in water, the San Diego County authority has said.
Council members, in their role as board members of the Carlsbad water district, said in September that they were willing to support a partial rate increase, but weren't keen on the full 20 percent given the national economic slowdown.
"Twenty percent to me in this day and age is a large increase," Councilman Matt Hall said at the time.
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.
For a copy of the state report with price comparisons for surrounding communities, visit the city's Web site at http://www.carlsbadca.gov/chall/ccvideo.html.
Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.
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Beach Bum wrote on Nov 30, 2008 8:24 PM:So, once we have Poisdeon Resources pumping desal to every resident in Carlsbad, what happens when the company decides it can't make it on the guaranteed price and asks for a surcharge or some other fee to cover the anticipated shortfall?
I know they have claimed that once the water contract is agreed to with the different water municipalities, water rates are locked in for a specified time period. Sounds too good to be true. Could it be, just maybe, that consumers will get a good, fair deal here?
c bad rez wrote on Dec 1, 2008 4:49 AM:Thanks Matt, I agree 20% increase is too much. Don't cave in and approve the increase.
general fund wrote on Dec 1, 2008 10:46 AM:Raise water rates the same amount that we pay to mwd. If sewer rates must increase put the money into infastructure. Watch out for the bait and switch, no water or sewer fees for the general fund.
No pay raise wrote on Dec 1, 2008 11:12 AM:Everything goes UP except pay for hard work in most jobs. Of course gov't gets guaranteed raises every year. We eliminated all water needing plants, added low flow toilets, etc....use only half cup water to brush teeth, low flow shower heads, no dishwasher, nothing left to 'cut' so the city will RAISE water prices. Some really can't afford another $20 a month. Sure some water wasters can 'cut' use, but some of us have already cut to a few drops of water a day. Sad.
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