11% Water Rate Hike to Get More Study

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday delayed approving an increase in water rates, putting off a vote for a week while agreeing to hire an outside auditor to determine whether residents should pay higher water rates in future years.

The initial 11% increase proposed for this year was to be voted on Tuesday, but four of the 15 council members said they still had doubts and questions.

The ordinance lacked the required unanimous support to adopt it on the first reading, which was given Tuesday. As a result, it was put off until next week when it will require only eight votes for approval, according to council rules.

Council members Greig Smith, Dennis Zine, Wendy Greuel and Jack Weiss said they wanted more information from the city Department of Water and Power to show that the rate increase was needed now to pay for water quality measures and improvements to the water system’s security .

“I know that the system needs to be protected,” Smith said. “What I don’t know is how much money we need to really do that.”

Smith asked DWP officials to provide information during the next week to show how much money the rate increase will provide for specific security and water quality projects, as well as to maintain cash reserves and the agency’s bond rating.

Greuel said she plans to vote against the increase next week, believing the case has not been made.