SOUTH COUNTY : Sewer, Water Rates May Take Jump

South Coast Water District customers can expect increases of at least 61% in sewer rates and 33% in water rates if Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposed budget is approved, according to a district report released Wednesday.

Under Wilson’s proposal, $347 million in property taxes would be shifted from 1,500 so-called “enterprise” special districts to school districts, said Linda Jones, the water district’s assistant general manager. Enterprise districts are those that generally have elected governing boards and have the authority to charge fees for services, such as sewer, water and other utility districts, Jones said.

A typical residential customer in the South Coast Water District can expect water consumption fees to increase from $1.21 to $1.54 per 100 cubic feet, and the monthly sewer service charge to rise from $16 to $25.70, Jones said.

Those increases could be further escalated if the district is forced to amend its budget, or if the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County, the water supplier for South Coast, changes its fee schedule, Jones added.

“The bottom line is the buck ends up in the user’s pocket,” Jones said. “They will be paying for this budget shift at least twice, in sewer and water rates.”

Under Wilson’s proposal, the district would lose all of its property tax revenue, which make up about $1.6 million of the South Coast Water District’s $7-million annual budget, Jones said. Some districts will be hit even harder, she added.

“Some agencies could lose as much as 44% of their operating budget,” she said.

The South Coast district serves about 6,500 customers in South Laguna, Dana Point and a small portion of Laguna Niguel.