Big Bear City CSD board directs staff to prepare FY 2025/26 budget reflecting proposed utility rate increases

At a special budget workshop on March 12, 2025, the Big Bear City Community Services District board directed staff to prepare the Fiscal Year 2025/26 budget to reflect proposed rate increases for water, sewer and solid waste services, Finance Officer Jeanette Prickett said. The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. and adjourned at 2:20 p.m.

Prickett presented highlights of the district’s draft budgets for the Water, Sewer, Solid Waste, General Government and Administrative funds and cited a proposed 2025 Rate Study completed by Raftelis as the basis for recommended increases. Prickett said the increases are necessary to meet or get “as close as possible” to the District’s Reserve Policy, and she fielded questions from board members and staff during the presentation. The transcript/minutes do not specify dollar amounts or percentage changes for the proposed rate adjustments.

Board members present — Bob Rowe, JoKay Rowe, John Russo (president), Larry Walsh and Al Ziegler — asked questions of staff, and staff answered. After discussion, the board, by consensus, directed staff to prepare the FY 2025/26 budget reflecting the Raftelis-recommended rate increases for water, sewer and solid waste services. The minutes record no formal motion, mover/second, or roll-call vote; the action is recorded as a board direction by consensus.

No public comments were offered at the meeting. General Manager Glenn Jacklin and other district employees were listed as present in the minutes. The special meeting was held at 139 East Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear City.

The board adjourned at 2:20 p.m.; the minutes show staff will prepare the budget as directed and return with the proposed FY 2025/26 budget for further consideration.