Oceanside adopts higher water, sewer rates

Homeowners and businesses in Oceanside will pay much more next year for water and sewer services, after the City Council voted unanimously this week to raise rates by as much as 18.9 percent.

More than a dozen residents spoke against the increase during Wednesday’s City Council meeting and dozens more submitted letters of opposition. But council members said there was little they could do because the city must pay for the costs of buying and delivering the water.

Officials said one of the main reasons for the price increases was to make up for falling revenues resulting from state-mandated water conservation spurred by the ongoing drought. Interim Water Utilities Director Jason Dafforn said the city has lost about $5 million in revenue since June due to falling water use.

“The department has thus far absorbed those shortfalls but we can no longer continue to do so moving forward,” Dafforn said.

Many of the residents who opposed the increases said they felt they were being penalized for doing what they were asked to do.

“We do our job. We save like the governor tells us and we get punished,” said Oceanside resident Rick Kratcoski. “It’s unreal that this is even occurring.”

The state Water Board adopted emergency regulations on May 5 requiring water suppliers statewide to reduce water use. Oceanside’s conservation goal was set at 20 percent compared to 2013. Since June, the city’s water customers have exceeded the target, reducing use by 27 percent, according to the utilities department.

Council members said people were understandably upset at the rate increases because they were asked to conserve water and they responded so well.

About two-thirds of the rate increases were “pass through” charges stemming from the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District, which provide much of the city’s water. The hike also included a 7.5 percent across-the-board increase imposed by the city.

“It is painful, but we are going to have to do this,” Councilman Jerry Kern said. “We have to pay the bills that are sent to us by MWD and the San Diego County Water Authority. If we don’t, we will bankrupt the system.”

A typical homeowner will pay about $12 more each month under the new rate. An average single-family customer uses about 12 units of water per month and pays about $64.85. The new rate with an 18.9 percent increase will be $77.11, according to city officials.

However, the increase will appear smaller for those who are conserving water, Dafforn said. For example, a homeowner who cut water use from 12 units a month to 10 units a month would pay only $2.68 more when the rate increase kicks in, Dafforn said. That’s because the homeowner was paying $64.85 for the 12 units and will pay $67.53 for 10 units, including the 18.9 increase.

“People who conserve water are going to look at $2.68 and the people who don’t care are going to look at $12 or more a month,” said Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery. “So that’s freedom of choice. It’s up to the consumer to decide which one of those they want to have.”

The city’s sewer rate will also increase by about 3.1 percent. The typical single-family home with a medium sewer flow pays about $57.99 a month, according to the city. That charge would go up to $59.74.

Several residents asked the council if the city would consider reducing the rates for seniors on fixed incomes. But officials said there was little they could do because Proposition 218, which was passed by state voters 1996, prohibits charging different rates to different people.

“We can’t charge people a lower rate just because they are seniors, or veterans, or limited income ... or anything else because that’s the state law,” Lowery said.

The new rates will take effect Jan. 1.