BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bakersfield City Council will take up a proposal this week to raise your water rates, and it’s far from a drop in the bucket.In the last water usage proposal, increased rates would amount to 56% over the next five years. The price hikes would affect up to 165,000 residents in all city wards, however the ward with the most affected residents is in Ward 5. The increases are due to aging infrastructure, state and federal regulations, and the need to acquire more water.
Last deliberations were in March, where city staff laid out how dire the situation is.
“If no action is taken, and we stay the course, within just a couple years, there will be no money in this fund to keep system going,” said Ward 1 City Councilmember, Eric Arias…