OAK PARK : Water Rate Hikes Will Be Smaller
The Triunfo County Sanitation District formally took over Oak Park’s water system on Friday in a transfer of ownership that should result in smaller-than-expected water rate hikes, Triunfo board Chairman Ron Stark said.
The California Public Utilities Commission approved Triunfo’s purchase of the Metropolitan Water Co. on Sept. 17 and the final transfer of assets took place Thursday, Triunfo District Manager David Burkhart said.
“The best news is water rates will not have to increase nearly as much as originally anticipated,” Burkhart said in a prepared statement.
Early estimates projected a rise in monthly rates from $27.77 to $37.19 for the typical Oak Park customer. Burkhart said new estimates project an increase to $34.19, a difference of $6.42 a month over the $27.77 bill.
“Nothing has changed,” said Stark in noting that Triunfo will employ the same water company workers. “But we are going to save the taxpayers quite a bit of money. We won’t know exactly how much until we have been in operation for a month or two.”
Stark, who is also an Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council board member, said five Oak Park residents had been appointed to a committee that will work “to ensure that water rates are at their lowest possible point.”
The water company serves an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 customers.
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