Steep water and sewer rate hikes on Riverbank’s horizon

Monthly water and sewer bills would more than double in five years under a proposal being considered by city leaders.

City Council members are expected Tuesday to schedule an Aug. 11 public hearing that would conclude a period during which people can protest the rate hikes. Although the price increases are substantial, most such proposals succeed in California because not enough people oppose them.

Water bills for a typical family would go up 107 percent under the plan, which features a series of five increases in as many years. That would take the current monthly charge of $19.75 to about $41 if a customer uses 15,000 gallons.

Monthly sewer bills would balloon 146 percent, from the current residential charge of $20.15 to $49.48 by 2019.

Together, a typical customer’s monthly charge of $39.90 would jump to more than $90 – a combined 127 percent.

A previous report said Riverbank needs more than $6.5 million of water projects and $10 million of sewer projects by 2020. Rates have not been raised since 2010 and 2008, respectively, and both funds are suffering, the document said.

Last month, the council considered a more ambitious plan featuring sharper increases in the first year or two, giving City Hall a lot more money in quicker fashion, followed by smaller bumps in subsequent years. Hoping to reduce sticker shock, the council favored spreading the rate increases more evenly over five years.

The change would produce a 35 percent water rate increase in the first year, instead of 51 percent, and a 28 percent sewer rate jump instead of 40 percent. But people would end up paying the same combined increase of 127 percent over the long haul because the new plan calls for a 10 percent water bump instead of 5 percent in Year 4 and a 17 percent increase for sewer that year instead of 3 percent.

Notices with price details and information on how to agree or disagree with the proposal would be mailed to customers by June 26, if council members agree at a 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday in the chamber at 6707 Third St. The so-called protest hearing on Aug. 11 would be held at the same time and place.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider a new five-year contract with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department for police services requiring at least one deputy on duty at all times, except when transporting prisoners to the county jail or helping with emergencies elsewhere.

The county has patrolled Riverbank since absorbing its police force in 1995. The new contract would require payment of $3.7 million in the first year, or $71,000 more than budgeted this year, and features the county continuing to provide 22 positions, including a police chief, two sergeants, 15 deputies or detectives and other support staff.

Two of those jobs are vacant, saving the city some money, but would be filled if Riverbank can spare more in the future for public safety, a report says.

Lastly, the council is expected to tweak some park rules allowing more flexibility for staff but less for park visitors. For example, popular Jacob Myers Park would open at 7 a.m., instead of an hour earlier, and would close at 8 p.m. April through September and at 6 p.m. October through March, instead of an hour after dusk. The park’s trails would close 30 minutes earlier.

This story was originally published June 8, 2015 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Steep water and sewer rate hikes on Riverbank’s horizon."