Hearing Scheduled on Water Rate Hike

The Oxnard City Council will hold a public hearing tonight on a proposal to raise water rates by about $1 a month.

A majority of Oxnard’s approximately 30,000 property owners would have to object to the proposal, either through the mail or at tonight’s hearing, to block the increase. The hearing is mandated by Proposition 218, the tax-cutting measure that won public support in November.

The rate hikes are needed to recover the increased cost of water charged by the city’s suppliers, the United Water Conservation District and Calleguas Metropolitan Water District, and to fund necessary improvements, such as pipeline replacement projects, according to water superintendent Buddy Valencerina.

Without the rate hike, the city would have to eliminate the capital improvement program and use up to 60% of the water fund’s reserves, Valencerina said.

“It means that we will not be able to maintain our water system,” he said. “And we’d deplete our reserve in just a couple of years if we were to use up the 60%.”

The average Oxnard family uses about 11 units, or 8,228 gallons of water per month. Under existing rates, the charge is $15.76. This rate would increase to $16.82 if the council approves the proposal July 15.

Once approved, the increase will go into effect within 30 days.

“We don’t make any profit; it’s just enough revenue to offset expenditures,” Valencerina said.