Los Angeles County Board approves five-year water rate plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026
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Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted 4–0 on Dec. 16 to adopt a five-year financial plan and schedule of water rate increases, citing rising imported-water costs and regulatory demands; the board said delaying action would threaten service reliability.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 adopted a five-year financial plan and new water rates set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, voting 4–0 with Supervisor Horvath absent. Supervisor Kathryn Barger moved the resolution and Supervisor Holly Mitchell seconded it.
Public Works officials told the board the proposal responds mainly to rising costs for imported water and escalating regulatory requirements. "The pass through rate adjustment only accounts for the cost of imported water," said Carolina Hernandez, Assistant Deputy Director of Public Works. Hernandez warned that "delaying or not approving the rate increase would compromise service reliability, financial stability, and the district's ability to meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements." Director of Public Works Mark Pastrella also joined departmental remarks.
Supervisor Barger asked why some districts had not seen increases in 10 to 20 years, pressing staff to explain how the agency reached the need for the change. Hernandez said districts had extended infrastructure life through efficiency and loans but now face unavoidable cost pressures that make the adjustment necessary.
A Malibu resident, Dean Wenner, spoke during the public hearing to register a protest, saying he lost property in a wildfire and urging that rate revenues be spent wisely: "We need money spent wisely. We need it stretched. We need it to make sure that it does what it needs to do." Staff responded that a master plan guides spending in affected districts and that the county has been working with local governments on recovery and resiliency priorities.
The board approved the resolution by roll call: Supervisors Mitchell, Hahn, Barger and Solis voted "Aye." The motion carried 4–0 with Supervisor Horvath absent. The adopted plan schedules the increases to begin for service on Jan. 1, 2026.
The board next scheduled other business and closed-session items; the board's next regular meeting is Jan. 6, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.