Riverside sewer customers could see their first rate increase in nearly a decade next year under a five-year proposal that the City Council unanimously moved toward a public hearing Tuesday.
For a single-family home outside a sewer pumping zone, the monthly charge would rise from $39.59 to $41.36 on Jan. 1, 2027. Four more increases, each taking effect July 1, would bring it to $55.19 by 2030 — $15.60 more per month than today. Rates would also rise for apartments, businesses and industrial customers.
Ratepayers can block the plan. Under Proposition 218, the city cannot adopt the increases if a majority of affected ratepayers submit written protests before or at the Nov. 17 hearing.
The proposed increase would average 4.2 percent across customer classes in January, followed by average increases of 7.2 percent each July through 2030. The exact change depends on the type of customer and whether sewage must be pumped to the treatment plant.
A single-family customer in a pumping zone would see the monthly charge rise from $45.73 to $47.51 in January and to $61.97 by July 2030. About 27 percent of the city's residential sewer customers live in pumping zones.
The council did not approve the increases Tuesday, but its vote directed staff to notify affected customers and move the proposal to a public hearing, which staff expects to hold Nov. 17.
Public Works officials say the increases are needed to repair aging pipes and treatment facilities, keep up with operating costs and meet the city's bond obligations. Riverside has not raised sewer rates since the 2017-18 fiscal year, after the council paused the last increase in a previous five-year plan.
The city staff report says 55 percent of Riverside's sewer collection system is more than 50 years old. Staff warned that without higher rates, the city risks falling below its legally required debt coverage this fiscal year and could not make its full debt payments in the 2027-28 fiscal year. Failures of the Alessandro Boulevard force main in 2016 and 2017 and the Magnolia force main in 2020 spilled more than 2.4 million gallons of sewage combined — and cost about $13 million to repair, according to the report.
"The sewer system and the sewer fund are under increasing pressure," Deputy Public Works Director Kevin Street told the council. "Our facilities are aging, costs are persistently rising and regulatory requirements continue to tighten. As staff, we believe we have exhausted every practical efficiency and restructuring option that is available to us."
Street said staff considered waiting until July 2027 to begin the increases. The city's financial model found that doing so would require an initial increase of 12.5 percent, rather than the smaller adjustment proposed for January.
Councilmember Sean Mill questioned the need for five years of increases and asked whether staff had exhausted every option to cut costs. Street said a five-year plan would help the city fund necessary repairs, while the council could revisit the rates as it receives updates on the sewer fund.
The proposal does not include assistance for low-income customers through the city's SHARE program. Staff said such assistance would require council approval and an available funding source.
Before the Nov. 17 hearing, the city plans to mail notices and hold community meetings to explain the proposed rates and take questions.
