The Big Bear Lake City Council will hear the first reading of a proposed Department of Water rate increase on Monday, October 11.
Starting with the first phase in January 2010, the increases would average 9% overall. A second increase of nine percent across-the-board would be applied to residential and commercial customers in July 2011.
DWP General Manager Joel Dickson has explained that the agency has cut costs and applied for outside funding, but says raising rates is justified, in order to keep the water infrastructure updated and mainlines appropriately sized for fire suppression
There were not enough public protests to kill the proposal, and the DWP Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to forward it to City Council. Tonight’s open session starts at 6:30 at the Civic Center. A second reading and vote will follow.
