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Bakersfield council continues Prop 218 sewer rate hearing after residents decry affordability
Summary
Residents and county representatives urged the council to delay or revise a proposed sewer-rate schedule the city says is needed to repair aging infrastructure; staff recommended a $475 flat fee effective July 1, 2026, with $100 annual increases for four years. The council continued the hearing to May 13, 2026.
The Bakersfield City Council opened a public hearing April 22 on a proposed sewer-rate schedule under CaliforniaProposition 218 that staff says is needed to repair aging wastewater infrastructure. Water Director Chris Budak told the council staffrecommended a $475 sewer rate effective July 1, 2026, followed by $100 annual increases for the next four years.
Residents, community groups and Kern County representatives urged the council to reconsider the proposal, saying the increases would be unaffordable for many. Claire Collins, an attorney representing Kern County, told the council the proposed schedule would "increase sewer charges by nearly 400% over 5 years" and said the county had submitted a formal protest. "The county…
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