Water, trash rates will rise twice for Ontario residents in the coming year
Ontario residents will be hit with double-rate increases for water and trash pickup starting in October and again in the summer of 2022, part of a revenue catch-up plan adopted unanimously by the City Council on Sept. 7.
The higher rates came after the city received 132 written objections, well-short of the required number set by state law to block the rate increases that will be implemented by the Ontario Municipal Utility Co., the city department responsible for providing these services. Sewage/ wastewater connection fees will not increase.
“Our electricity just went up. The thought of our water bills going up is very frustrating and stressful for a lot of us, especially the older community,” said Mireya Cano, an Ontario resident speaking during the public hearing before the council vote Tuesday.
Starting Oct. 1, the average residential water bill will jump by 3.6% or about $2.51 per month, rising from $68.97 per month to $71.48 per month. The second round of increases begins July 1, , which will raise rates 5% or about $3.67 per month, with the average residential bill ris
ing to $75.15 per month, according to the staff report.
Trash rates will rise about $8 a month or about $96 a year.
The first hike, on-or-after Oct. 1, will add $4.04 a month, raising the monthly trash pick-up bill for the average residential customer from $27.68 to $31.72. Then, on July 1, the bills will jump another $4.03 per month, raising the monthly bill to $35.75 for the average residential customer, according to the staff report.
The extra money collected from water customers will be used to pay for the higher cost of imported water purchases, repairs of infrastructure and water treatment. The water bill increases only pay for the cost of providing the service and do not funnel money into the city’s general fund, said City Manager Scott Ochoa.
“We haven’t had a rate increase for water, sewer or trash since 2017,” Ochoa said during the meeting, despite seeing about 2% per year increases in the Consumer Price Index during the past four years. The price of electricity plays into the rates, since electric pumps are used to move water, he said.
After hearing some speakers say that raising water and trash rates during the coronavirus pandemic is troublesome since many residents are behind on their rent or are still looking for employment, some members of the City Council expressed sympathy.
“I, too am frustrated, I enjoy my yard and do a lot of gardening; it brings me great joy. I am very sorry to pass on these kinds of rate increases to everyone,” said Councilwoman Debra Dorst-Porada.
Mayor Paul Leon said the city’s utility must pay for itself. On water rates, the current drought has increased the price of imported water, he said. Also, the 130-year-old city has water and sewer pipes at least that old that need repair and updating.
All aspects of trash collection, including hauling, disposal at landfills and recycling cost more, Ochoa said. One reason is the rising cost of fuel that power the city’s trash trucks. Another are tighter state regulations requiring cities to recycle food waste for the first time. Ochoa said a pilot food/organic waste recycling program will begin in late fall and early winter.