CITY OF BAKERSFIELD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED INCREASES TO SEWER RATES
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing accepting testimony will be held before the Bakersfield City Council at 5:15 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on Wednesday May 28, 2025, in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California, for the purpose of considering increases to Sewer Rates. The new rates, if adopted, will go into effect on July 1, 2025. In compliance with Proposition 218, affected property owners within the City limits of Bakersfield are hereby informed of the proposed increases to Sewer Rates.
Background
Bakersfield provides comprehensive wastewater (sewer) service for the protection and enhancement of the environment as well as the health, safety, and welfare of the community. This service is financially self -sufficient and is not supported by General Fund revenues.
The City’s rate structure ensures the cost of providing service is fairly and equitably recovered from all customer groups. The proposed rate increases are required to fund operational and capital costs and ensure sufficient reserves to meet long-term needs.
Sewer Rate Changes
Residential sewer rates are proposed to increase from $239.00 to $950.00 per year. Residential customers pay a flat rate for sewer.
The sewer fee is collected annually on the property tax bill. Other residential rates are listed in Table A.
Commercial sewer rates vary by wastewater strength classification . Sewer fees for commercial customers consist of a flat rate component, and surcharges. Sewer surcharges for commercial customers are based on water consumption and surcharges will only be charged when actual water flow exceeds what the customer pays for in their flat rate charge.
Table A: Strength Classification and Proposed Sewer Rates Flat Rate - Collected on Property Tax Bill
Surcharge Rate for
Commercial per HCF*
Strength Classification Description Current July 1, 2025 Current July 1, 2025 Single Family Residence Unit $239.00 $950.00 N/A N/A
Multiple Dwelling Unit $179.25 $712.50 N/A N/A
Commercial Low Strength Unit + Flow Qty Charge $239.00 $950.00 $1.83 $7.28 Commercial Medium Strength Unit + Flow Qty Charge $239.00 $950.00 $2.01 $7.98 Commercial Medium-High Strength Unit + Flow Qty Charge $239.00 $950.00 $2.59 $10.28 Commercial High Strength Unit + Flow Qty Charge $239.00 $950.00 $3.35 $13.32 *HCF – hundred cubic foot of water used. 1 HCF is equal to 748 gallons.
Table B: Permitted Industrial User Sewer Fee Current July 1, 2025 Flow / million gallons $2,080.09 $8,263.19
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) / 1,000 pounds $164.35 $652.88 Total Suspended Solids (TSS) / 1,000 pounds $98.89 $392.89
If you have questions regarding this notice or how it may affect your property, call (661) 326-3249 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or email staff at [email protected]. Supporting documentation is available for review at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93301.
PUBLIC COMMENT will be accepted in writing on or before the hearing date indicated above at the City Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any interested person, including property owners, may appear and be heard to protest against the Sewer Rate increase. Protests to the proposed increase must be delivered in writing to the City Clerk, City of Bakersfield, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield California 93301, prior to the conclusion of the public hearing on May 28, 2025. All written protests must: 1) identify the assessor’s parcel number 2) identify the address of the parcel and 3) include the name and signature of the property owner submitting the protest. If written protests are received from a majority of owners of the affected parcels, the proposed rate increases will not be approved. In accordance with the California Constitution, as amended by Proposition 218, only one protest is allowed per parcel.
Please take notice that there is a 120-day statute of limitations for challenging any new, increased, or extended fee or charge.
Julie Drimakis, MMC
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield