Water Rates to Increase by 6.3 Percent for Residents

On Monday, the city council will hold a public hearing to consider increasing water rates by an average of 6.3 percent to cover ongoing debt obligations for the Ellis Creek Water Treatment Facility as well as build up reserves for operations and equipment in years to come.

Click here to see the draft water and wastewater financial plan and rate study

According to the city, homeowners can expect to see their rates go up by an average of 6.3 percent and businesses by 4.7 percent, with apartment buildings that have 20 units or more seeing the biggest increase.

Besides servicing the city’s bond obligations, additional funds are needed to pay for a $4 million upgrade of the downtown wastewater pump station and repair the aging sewer system, according to the city. Rates will then be adjusted every year starting 2013 based on wholesale water purchase costs from the Sonoma County Water Agency.

But some Petaluma residents say raising rates at a time when many homeowners are struggling to pay their mortgages is wrong. Since announcing the plan, the city has received 18 letters of protest from residents who oppose the increases, with some arguing that the timing is just not right for the change.

“Given the current economic situation and the fact that so many of us are unemployed and struggling to survive, we feel it is completely inappropriate to raise our water rates at this time,” wrote Petaluma residents Jill and Allan Berger in a letter to the city earlier this month. “Few, if any of us, have been given additional compensation due to inflation.”

Others say that homeowners with low or average usage should not be penalized for large water consumption by businesses. But according to the city’s study, homes with low or typical water use, would only see an increase of 3.6 percent, while high and very high users would see an average increase of 9 percent.

Still those on a fixed income say they are already squeezed and cannot allot any more money for water.

"I never thought that I would have to budget for water," wrote another concerned resident.

Monday’s meeting starts at 7pm at City Hall.