The Santa Maria Utilities Department is hosting a public workshop to discuss proposals to increase water and sewer rates over the next four years Wednesday night in the City Council Chambers.
The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 110 East Cook Street.
If the proposal is approved at a Santa Maria City Council public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, in the City Council Chambers, the increase in water and sewer rates would be effective starting January 2020 and would go up each year.
Director of Utilities Shad Springer says the rise in rates are "necessary" to pay for the increased costs to water and sewer utilities.
The last time Santa Maria saw a boost in water and sewer rates was in July 2017.
Proposed water rates consist of a fixed meter charge per month and a variable consumption charge per unit, or per 100 cubic feet.
