Bakersfield council rescinds Proposition 218 notice on proposed sewer-rate increases, orders further analysis

Bakersfield City Council on May 14 voted to rescind a Proposition 218 notice that would have advanced proposed sewer-rate increases for fiscal year 2025–26, and directed staff to perform further analysis and outreach before returning recommendations to the council.

City staff had recommended rescinding the notice to allow “additional analysis to confirm some of the numbers” and to broaden community engagement, City staff member Mr. Clegg told the council. “We expect that there still is a significant need to address a real gap in long range capital planning for our sewer system and that we will bring this issue back this calendar year,” he said.

The vote followed public comment both for and against higher rates. Roman Matera submitted a petition asking the council to raise the sewer fee “from $250 to $950” and urged the council not to rescind the proposed increase. Resident Debbie Busby spoke in opposition, saying the proposed increase would cause hardship for seniors and people on limited incomes.

Council members who spoke said the city faces a multidecade funding gap for wastewater infrastructure and that previous underfunding left the city with low reserves. Council member Smith said the sewer system historically was underpriced compared with peer cities and that “we've under taxed and under saved for 30 years and now we have this problem.” Council member Komen noted staff reported nearly 3,000 letters received in opposition to the proposed rates and urged extensive outreach before any new proposal.

Council member Coleman urged staff to investigate public-private partnership options and potential revenue offsets such as biogas or renewable energy projects tied to treatment-plant sites, saying such partnerships have been used by other California cities. Coleman told the council she had sent a written referral to the city manager to explore third-party partnerships and technologies to mitigate long-term costs.

Council members also cited system capacity concerns: Komen noted Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 is at about 78% capacity and said several capital items are included in the planning scope, including a parallel line on Buena Vista and downtown sewer replacements.

The motion to rescind the Proposition 218 notice was made from the dais and approved; the clerk recorded the motion as approved with Council member Kaur absent. The council directed staff to return with more detailed financial analysis and expanded community outreach within four to six months.

The action pauses the Proposition 218 process that would have advanced rate ballots to affected property owners; staff said the city has no current financial or legal obligation tied to the paused notice beyond planning and outreach work.

What happens next: staff will continue analysis of capital needs and alternatives and bring proposal(s) back to the council after further public engagement. Council members emphasized the need to establish reserve policies and clearer asset-management planning to avoid similar shortfalls in the future.