The City of Bakersfield will hold another public hearing regarding the proposed sewer rate increases on May 13 in the City Hall Chambers at 5:15 p.m., and the city council will vote on the recommended rate. If approved, the new rates will take effect on July 1.

Community members can also voice their opinions by submitting a letter to the Clerk’s Office at City Hall North before the end of the meeting. The clerk’s office will transmit all written protests received to the wastewater division for review and verification.

Letters must include the person’s opposition, property address, assessor’s parcel number, and an original, not electronic signature. Only one protest letter per parcel will be counted. You can look up your parcel number here.

During the City Council meeting on April 22, the director of the water department, Kris Budak, stated that rates were mailed on March 5 and March 19, in accordance with Proposition 218, to let affected community members know the rates. 

The recommendation is to raise the rate to $475 as of July 1, 2026, and increase it by $100 each year until 2030, when the effective rate will be $875. 

During the city council meeting, several community members spoke in opposition to the rate increase, and none spoke in favor. Those who spoke mentioned that is would not be affordable for many people living in the city, and some even mentioned that it could drive people to move out of Bakersfield. 

Erick Orellana from Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability spoke and asked the city to come up with an assistance program for low-income residents. 

“University of California Natural Agricultural Resources Report found that this rate increase would be unaffordable for nearly one in four residents in Bakersfield. So, one thing is clear: residents need support if this rate goes forward,” said Orellana. “That’s why we’re asking that you establish a low-income rate assistance program, which would be critical to ensuring that residents here in Bakersfield are supported. There are people in this community that are on fixed incomes that we’ve spoken to and have communicated how much of an impact this would have. So we respectfully urge you to implement a low-income rate assistance program with general fund dollars.”

Claire Collins, an attorney specializing in sewer rates, stated that the county of Kern asked her to speak at the meeting and address some of its concerns. She suggested that the county spread the rates over a longer period of time, adding that the facilities will not all be built within the next five years while they do the increases. 

“They will benefit county residents for decades to come. The county respectfully requests that the city consider spreading these costs over a longer period. It’s something we call generational equity. The county appreciates all the work that’s gone into the study. We understand how thorough the city has tried to be and in working with consultants over the prior year. However, the county would like to be at the table,” said Collins. 

After public comment, Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur asked how far the city is in developing a program to assist low-income families. City Manager Christian Clegg stated that they have researched what other cities are doing to have a similar program and have some analysis on how it could work, but at the time of the meeting, they had not prepared a recommendation. He clarified that he thinks it would take a “budget appropriation by council in the upcoming budget process.”

“So my recommendation tonight is that we prioritize that within this budget cycle, if we are making the ask of the public to increase the rate that we do provide a system of support for those who are on fixed incomes in our community,” said Kaur.You can find more information on the sewer system and rates report here.