The Bakersfield City Council approved the proposed sewer rates on Wednesday night, with Vice Mayor Kaur and Councilmember Ken Weir voting no. The increase will raise the rates to $475 starting July 1, 2026, and increase by $100 each fiscal year after that until 2030, when the final rate will be $875.
This decision came after months of community meetings and presentations from the city. Many community members opposed the rates, stating that they or others would not be able to afford the increase.
Prior to the vote, several community members spoke to give a final plea for the council to deny. One community member was Catalina Maldonado, who spoke about those on fixed incomes and asked that the council pursue other options.
“I’m here to give my final appeal in strong opposition to this rate increase. The rising cost of living is already difficult for working families. Many of our working families are elderly. It’s simply not fair to place the cost of decades of neglected infrastructure onto property owners,” said Maldonado.
The councilmembers gave their opinions after the public comment, and Kaur stated she was opposed to the sewer rate increase mainly because there was not already a plan in place to assist those who are low-income or on fixed incomes.
“Number one, it’s the lack of a program for those who are on a fixed income. Number two is timing,” said Kaur, on why she does not support the increase. “Number three is also that residents are not unaware of what the risk is. You know, as a city planner, I understand the needs of infrastructure. I understand how urgent this is and can be. But timing is everything, and right now cannot be the absolute time that we need to put an additional burden on the families of our city.”
Kaur stated that while the community members had understood the need for the infrastructure update, they are asking why now?
“I think our rollout and that responsibility fell on us. And still our residents ask is please find a better way for us to afford this infrastructure that our city is going to need. So I do feel we could have done a better job here,” said Kaur.
Kaur moved to deny; however, Councilmember Bob Smith moved to adopt the staff recommendations as they stated he did not want to bond the full amount needed. Councilmember Eric Arias spoke about the options as well and motioned to approve the recommendations with the exception that there must be a program in place for those who are considered very low-income or on fixed incomes. When stating his reasoning, he added that he did not want to make a decision because it is the “politically savory” one.
“I believe that I was elected not to you know pursue the most politically savory you know option but rather to make the best decision on behalf of the city of Bakersfield and and even if it’s an unsavory decision that we unfortunately have to make tonight I think it’s the fiscally responsible one so I’m in support of city staff’s proposal as recommended but but I refuse to believe that there’s nothing that we can do to help support taxpayers who are particularly on a very low income and also a fixed income,” said Arias.
Councilmember Larry Koman stated that, to set aside money for those who can’t pay the increase, it would have to come from general fund dollars because it can’t be included in the enterprise due to the 218 proposition rules. He added that they do not have the money for that type of assistance. Smith stated he agrees with Koman and is not in favor of using the general fund to help people.
Councilmember Andrae Gonzales stated the council has allocated $8 million in ARPA federal funds before to assist with disadvantaged communities, and so he agreed with Arias’s motion. Arias motion was denied with only Arias and Gonzales voting in favor. Smith’s motion to approve the staff recommendation as is passed with Kaur and Weir voting no.
After the meeting, community members stated their disappointment with the council. Olivia Nazarson stated that she was outraged that the program for those with low and fixed incomes did not pass.
“There is no compassion to such type of family and people. I do believe that 14% of Bakersfield residents are retired and receive only social security benefits,” said Nazarson.
Maldonado stated that she is a live-in caregiver for her son, who is medically fragile, and they live off of whatever hours are allotted by the county. While she understands that the sewer systems and rates have not been maintained for years, she spoke about the impact it will have on homeowners.
“It’s going to be a big blow on homeowners. And so consequently, what’s going to happen is our mortgages are going to increase, our property taxes, and rents,” said Maldonado. “Rents are going to increase. And so my concern is that we’re getting closer to Los Angeles, where people are just going to have to be living with each other, and people aren’t going to be able to, you know, our children go out and get their own homes. As it is, the younger generation cannot purchase homes. And so this just makes that even more out of reach. And so that’s my main concern.”
Debbie Busby stated her disappointment as well and stated she wanted them to find another way to pay for the sewer rate increase.
“So I think it’s just a shame that, only Ken Wier and Councilwoman Kaur were the only ones that opposed the rate hike, and I know that it’s got to be done, but to me, this seems like a big money grab, and who’s gonna hold them responsible? Because they have not maintained them for these past 100 years. So, I just think it’s important for the taxpayers who really can’t afford it,” said Busby.
