Sewer Rates Go Up With Little Protest

The Rohnert Park City Council OK'd a 50 percent sewer rate hike last Tuesday, after it apparently became clear that not many people objected to the increase.

Under the Proposition 218 process, the city needed a majority protest (50 percent plus one) from current sewer account holders in order to stall the rate increase — or 5,534 letters. According to city records, 11,066 property owners in Rohnert Park were eligible to submit a written protest. Public records attained by Rohnert Park Patch Monday showed just 39 residents contested the increase.

"With only a handful of protests filed, last night the City chose to move forward with a new sewer rate," Mayor Gina Belforte said in a statement last week after the council voted in the new rates. “This has been a lengthy process ... this new sewer rate will ensure that we maintain our sewer system and protect our community.”

"I do not see the city's management effort for reducing current expenditures to meet the city's financial obligations. Without it I do not want to support any sewer's [sic] rate increase," wrote M Section resident  Irina Pogadaev. 

Another resident, Jeff Robertson, of G Section, wrote "For the past two years, my income has been 15 percent less and my benefits have been cut. In addition, I am paying more towards healthcare ... I am a single man and I have no other means of income. I am frugal with my water and sewer. I would consider any increase imposed upon me as unfair and unjust!"

"I am strongly against the new proposed sewer fee, as the voters have already decided on this issue in the last election," wrote Daniel S., who lives onEnterprise Drive. 

"Though I understand the city's current economic position, I protest the proposed sewer rate increase," wrote Rich and Laura Kane of R Section. "As with any business the City Council needs to work within its revenue stream. If cuts to city services and jobs are the solution, then these are the hard decisions we elected you to make. Our vote is no for any increase of sewer rates."

The new rate structure will raise fees 25 percent July 1, another 25 percent on top of that in January 2012 and an additional three percent a year for the following three years.

Rohnert Park's fees, after Measure L rolled back sewer rates to 2006 levels, have been touted as the lowest in the area. The Sewer Fund Stakeholder Group, a 16 member board made up of Rohnert Park residents, said in a final report that the rates have not kept pace with the cost of providing service, that the system is operating on an annual deficit and at before the rates were increased, the sewer operating fund would have run out by 2013. Officials have said that sewer operating costs last year were $9.6 million but expenses were almost $12 million.

Under the new structure, a single-family home will likely see rates jump to $58.65 by January, from $37.58 today. Officials say the rates will still be the lower than surrounding cities.