Water, Sewer Rate Ballots Due Soon

Ballots mailed to Camarillo’s water and sewer ratepayers to decide whether they wish to continue subsidizing reduced rates for low-income seniors must be returned to City Hall by 10 a.m. Wednesday. Residents at that same time may comment at a public hearing at City Hall before ballots are tallied.

Or residents may comment on the sewer rates at 5 p.m. at the Camarillo Sanitary District meeting, or on the water rates at 7:30 p.m. at the City Council meeting. The result of the ballots will be announced at each of the later meetings before the public comment segments.

After listening to residents’ concerns, sanitary district members and council members will decide whether to continue offering the reduced rates to seniors 62 or older who have an annual income below $15,000 and use no more than 10 units, or 7,480 gallons, of water per month.

If a majority of the ballots do not protest the continuation of each subsidy, the sanitary district and council may order the subsidy to continue.

Each year since 1977, about $30,000 from regular rates along with interest earned on the money has subsidized the lower rates for seniors. The subsidy costs regular ratepayers about 26 cents monthly. The rates can no longer be subsidized because Proposition 218 prohibits cities from charging higher rates to some customers in order to subsidize the rates of others without their permission.

If the vote to continue the subsidy fails, low-income seniors’ monthly sewer rates will nearly double from $10.92 to $21.08 for those living in single-family homes.