Sonoma Water wins board approval for sewer rate increases and $600,000 relief program

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on May 12 adopted resolutions and ordinances approving sewer‑service charge increases across eight sanitation districts and zones and authorized Sonoma Water to set aside up to $600,000 from its general fund for a sanitation rate relief program.

Sonoma Water fiscal services manager Jake Spalding and colleagues told the board the proposed annual increases range roughly from 3.5% to 8.9%, depending on the district or zone, producing annual per‑equivalent‑single‑family‑dwelling increases of about $42 to $210 in districts and $108 to $178 in zones. Spalding said the increases are driven by higher costs for services and supplies, deferred maintenance, more stringent water‑quality regulations and aging infrastructure.

The board also approved continued operation of a sanitation rate relief program that offers a 50% reduction in the annual sewer service charge to qualifying customers. Eligibility, Spalding said, is limited to owner‑occupants enrolled in PG&E CARES or households with gross income at or below 75% of area median family income as determined by the Sonoma County Housing Authority; certain 501(c)(3) nonprofits that run homeless shelters or rent at least 85% of their units to low‑income tenants may also qualify.

Public commenters raised questions about where the $600,000 subsidy would come from and whether county general‑fund transfers are the source. One attendee asked for clarity about how Sonoma Water had budget capacity for the relief fund; Spalding and the Sonoma Water presenter said the request is to authorize up to $600,000 from Sonoma Water's general fund to keep the program operating and that the agency routinely pursues grants, loans and general‑fund transfers to offset rate pressure.

Board members pressed staff on the timeline for an ongoing rate study that will reassess connection and capacity charge calculations. County counsel and Sonoma Water staff said the comprehensive nexus and rate study could take 18–24 months and that the board had previously directed staff to retain current capacity charges until that study is complete.

The board approved the main set of resolutions and ordinances by roll call. In the first roll call on the multi‑district action the votes recorded in the transcript were: Supervisors Rabbit, Corsi, Gore, Hopkins and Chair Hermosillo — all voting yes. A separate roll call for the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District likewise recorded yes votes and the motion carried.