FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno could see its first water rate increase in nearly a decade beginning in 2027, under a proposal city leaders discussed Thursday.
The city council decided 5 to 2 to move forward with holding a special meeting on December 29th at 9 a.m. at City Hall.
They plan to begin sending out informational mailers starting on Friday. This is because the process is still in its early stages.
The proposed increases would affect about 180,000 water customers living within city limits or on impacted county properties. If approved, the new rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and continue through June 30, 2031.
During Thursday’s meeting, City Council members asked city staff final questions before deciding whether to move the process forward.
“By fiscal year 31, at the end of this, our water rates are still to be lower than Clovis’s are right now? That’s correct,” Councilmember Nick Richardson asked.
If approved, rates would increase annually over five years. Utility staff said rates for average customers would not rise by more than $3 per year.
According to city estimates, an average single-family household could see an additional $1.77 per month during the first year of the increase.
City officials argued the rate increases are necessary to keep pace with rising costs and maintain water facilities.
“We should do it with transparency, and we should do it with an opportunity to have input,” Vang said.
City Manager Georgeanne White pushed back on those concerns, saying the city has planned nine additional community meetings, one in each council district. She also said the city has already printed informational mailers and protest cards.
“We have been talking about these rate increases for 2 to 3 years. This isn’t something that is being sneaked in. That’s lacking transparency. We’ve been very transparent about the need to raise utility rates,” White said.
Voters have a final say on this matter; protest cards will allow voters to say no to these rate hikes, but more than 50% of those impacted must return them to successfully veto the move.
