Council Raises Water, Sewer Rates

In response to the rising Metropolitan Water District prices and operation costs, the San Clemente City Council voted unanimously Tuesday on a 7- and 8-percent increase in water and sewer rates, respectively.

A water and sewer rate study commissioned by the city found that the increases would be necessary not only for fiscal year 2013, but would also need to increase significantly every year for the next five years to meet rising costs.

Only the 2013 increases were up for a vote Tuesday.

Sanjay Gaur from the consultant Raftelis Financial went over charts with the city council showing that the costs of providing water would outstrip revenues if prices remained the same for water and sewer service.

"What this says is that your revenue is not meeting your expense," he said. "By eating, in some sense, into your savings account, you're going more and more negative."

For water rates, city officials estimate the hike will raise the average monthly bill for a single-family residence from $44.67 to $47.22. For a business, the increase will raise the average bill from $168.88 to $180.74, according to the city staff report.

For sewer rates, the city estimates the average monthly bill will jump from $34.52 to $37.26. Business bills on average will jump from $191.55 to $206.85.

The 2013 budget also cuts $267,000 and $166,000 from the city's water and sewer operations, respectively.

The city clerk said staffers recieved about two dozen written complaints about the rate increases, and two resident came to complain during the public hearing.

Talega residents wouldn't be affected by the increase; they receive their water from the Rancho Santa Margarita Water District.