California Residents to See Bill Double Under New Plan

Some California residents will see their sewer bills more than double by mid-2028 if city officials approve a proposed budget from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Under the new plan, Bass proposes a variety of budget increases for city services, ranging from increased ambulance service costs from the fire department to a slew of increases to the city's bimonthly sewer bill that will see the cost more than double if the Los Angeles council approves the mayor's budget.

The budget proposal from Bass, who previously served as a Democrat in the U.S. House, comes as municipalities across the nation have recently considered an increase in water bills while citing a variety of reasons, ranging from new nanofiltration systems to reduce the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, to less water storage in reservoirs because of damaged dams.

Sewer rates also have been on the rise. Across the country from California, Aqua Virginia recently submitted a rate increase that would charge some Virginians as much as a 42 percent increase to their water and sewer bills the company says is needed to recover money spent on infrastructure investment, capital improvements and increasing operation and maintenance costs.

In Los Angeles, the money generated from the spike would also be allocated toward improving infrastructure.

"I am releasing a proposed budget today that makes investments to continue the urgent work we began together last year to bring thousands of unhoused people inside, make Los Angeles safer and continue delivering critical services for Angelenos," Bass said in a press release. "In the coming year, we will face challenging times, and this budget serves as a "reset" toward prioritizing core city services and a more honest, transparent and focused budget process to build on the foundation of a new Los Angeles that we established together."

Newsweek reached out to the City of Los Angeles by email for comment and to the Bureau of Sanitation by phone for comment.

Part of the "new" Los Angeles that Bass mentions includes replacing aging sewage pipes and improving the city's sewer infrastructure, the Los Angeles Times reported. If the budget is approved, sewer bill increases will spike a family's average bimonthly sewer bill by $20 in October, according to the Los Angeles Times report. Over the next four years, that increase would eventually bring the average bimonthly bill to around $155, up from an average of around $72, according to the Times.

The increase would equate to approximately $115 million for the city, which will then go toward improving sewer infrastructure.

If approved, the sewer bill increases would be imposed on everyone in the city, including homeowners, renters and business owners, the Los Angeles Times reported.