California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Residents in Redlands have done such a great job conserving water that homeowners are now going to see upwards of a 40 percent rate increase over the next three years. On top of that, Redlands City Council members voted 4 to 1 to also tack on an additional 2.5 percent annual increase for sewer fees.
The city’s justification for the rate increase: conservation. Because residents in the small town in the Inland Empire have conserved so drastically, the Redlands Water Department is now seeing an annual budget shortfall of $2 million.
Some residents are unhappy with the water rate increase. A coalition throughout the city has residents signing petitions as a means of protesting the rate increase. In order for the increase to be voided, 50 percent plus one of the city’s water customers or property owners has to protest the increase. Should that threshold be reached, the increase is automatically rejected. The petitions have to be submitted by March 15 to the city clerk’s office.
Redlands most recent water rate increase occurred in 2013 and has subsequently gone up every year since.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the issue March 15 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
