Sacramento City Utility Fee Increase Postponed

A request by the Sacramento Department of Utilities to increase fees for city storm drain services has been postponed. By law such an increase would require a public vote.

There were plans to add a measure on the June ballot, but the city decided not to.

The department says a measure by the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency is already on the ballot and a storm drain measure would likely confuse voters.

The city will move forward with plans to increase monthly water rates by 10 percent and wastewater rates by 9 percent each year for the next four years.

The city says the monthly rates would increase by $6.59 in year one, $7.23 in year two, $7.93 in year three and $8.70 in year four.

An advisory commission will hear the proposal next Wednesday. It it approves, the Sacramento City Council will consider the proposal in March.