Vote Planned on Utility Subsidies

Ballots will soon be mailed to Camarillo’s water and sewer ratepayers to determine whether they wish to continue subsidizing reduced rates for low-income seniors. Rather than nearly double the water and sewer rates of Camarillo’s low-income seniors, the City Council recently agreed to authorize the balloting process to comply with the requirements of a new state law.

Separate ballots, one for each water customer and one for each sewer customer, will be mailed Aug. 8 and must be returned to City Hall by Sept. 24.

Since 1977, Camarillo has offered the reduced rates to low-income seniors who are 62 years and older with an annual income below $15,000. The recipients must consume no more than 10 units, or 7,480 gallons, of water per month.

Each year, about $30,000 collected from regular rates along with interest earned is used to subsidize the lower rates for seniors. The subsidy is equal to about 26 cents per month per customer.

The rates can no longer be subsidized because Proposition 218, approved by California voters last year, 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 water-rate subsidy fails, low-income seniors’ monthly sewer rates will nearly double, from $10.92 to $21.08, for those living in single-family homes.

City Council members will decide tonight whether the city will pay for postage for returning the ballots. Without paying for return postage, the election will cost the city nearly $3,500.