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closePaso Roblans now have until Sept. 2 to protest rising water rates because the City Council postponed a decision about changes to the city’s water rate structure.
Following nearly three hours of public testimony and discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting, the council voted unanimously to put off a decision about the new rates.
Earlier, they had postponed a decision about increases to the city’s water connection fee costs, saying city staff needed more time to resolve concerns brought up by the county Home Builder’s Association.
The builder’s group has said that there are discrepancies in the data prepared by city consultants, which was used to come up with the rate structures. The city has promised a written reply to the group by Friday, and city staff plan to meet with them again next week.
Postponing the decision on residential and business water rates means the protest ballot period remains open.
Under Proposition 218, a statewide initiative approved by voters in 1996, protests from a majority of people affected by a water rate-hike proposal can stop a fee increase. Paso Robles has about 10,000 water customers, so that would mean over 5,000 would have to protest to stop the new rates.
Under the proposed rates, the average family’s water bill in Paso Robles is expected to rise to $92.88 per month next year from the current $56.40, then to $143.42 in 2010 and $164.64 in 2011.
-Leah Etling
@Nyx.CommentBody@