Community Meeting on City-owned Water System Rates on September 25, 2019 (Click here to get the flyer)
Bell Gardens, CA - On September 25, 2019, a community meeting to discuss the City-owned water system rates will be held at 7:00PM – 8:30PM in Ross Hall at Bell Gardens Veterans Park, 6662 Loveland St. Bell Gardens, CA. Topics of discussion will include:
• Information on the City’s water delivery system
• What needs to be done to maintain the water system
• How to keep up with the rising cost of water
• Options the City is facing
Since 1994, the City of Bell Gardens has owned and operated a potable water system to distribute retail water service to approximately 1,640 metered customers, which is about 30% of the City area in the northerly part of the City. The water rates and service charges of the City-Owned Water System have not been increased or adjusted over the past 25 years. During that time, the cost to operate the system has skyrocketed. The Water Enterprise Fund is operating at a deficit and is presently losing money annually, requiring a subsidy from the City’s General Fund.
The General Fund subsidy comes at the expense of the approximately 70% of the City area that is not serviced by the City-Owned Water System. The subsidy is now greater than $500,000 per year and is paid for by general City revenues that would otherwise be utilized for public safety, streets and sidewalks, recreations programs, etc. Over the past seven years, the cumulative subsidy has risen to over $2,300,000 and is projected to reach almost $3,000,000 by June 30, 2020 if no action is taken.
Please join us for this discussion, your participation is greatly encouraged.
