Board approves sewer-service rate package after debate over staging of increases

Los Angeles County supervisors on June 24 approved an ordinance to raise sewer service charges for the Consolidated Sewer Maintenance District and related zones after a public hearing and discussion of the rate schedule.

The approved plan raises the district’s fee in a phased schedule that includes larger increases in the first three years and much smaller increases in years four and five. Supervisor Janice Hahn questioned the structure, saying the initial $14 annual increase for three years is a steep early burden and asked why the increase was not spread more evenly across five years.

Mark Pestrella, Director of Public Works, and Seth Desarro (Deputy Director) explained the district had not raised rates since 2014 and now faced a shortfall. Desarro said the higher increases in early years “allow us to maintain the level of service and the quality of service that we provide now and keep the business operation from going into deficit.”

Hahn and other supervisors pressed Public Works about outreach and why some cities perceived they would pay more without a corresponding increase in local maintenance. Public Works said staff conducted targeted outreach, community open houses and coordinated with supervisors’ field offices and that the rate package preserves the district’s current level of service and invests in system resiliency.

Public comment included residents reporting very large utility bills and calls for clearer outreach and more even pacing of increases. The ordinance passed on a 4–0 vote.

What this changes: The rate study justified the increases; Public Works said the early increases prevent the district from running a deficit and preserve a high level of sewer-system service.

What’s next: Public Works said it will continue outreach and return with monitoring data; board members urged regular, proactive reviews to avoid sudden large increases in the future.