Sewer Rate Hearing Notice

Description

NOTICE OF HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST NILES COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT To: Property Owners of Record and Tenants in Possession of All Property Within the East Niles Community Services District that Receive Sewer Service From: East Niles Community Services District NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a hearing will be held before the Board of Directors of the East Niles Community Services District (District) on May 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., or as soon as thereafter as the matter may be heard, at the District offices, located at 7443 Niles Street, Bakersfield, CA 93306. The purpose of this hearing is to consider and receive comments on the proposed increases to sewer usage rates. The District provides wastewater collection services and delivers such wastewater to the City of Bakersfield’s Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2 and Kern Sanitation Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Plant on behalf of District property owners and/or occupants, and bills for those services by and through the County tax collections system. Costs for operation and maintenance of the District’s wastewater collection system, and the City’s operational costs for Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2, have increased over the last few years and are anticipated to continuously increase in the future. The District is billed by the City of Bakersfield for the District’s portion of operational costs and capital improvement costs associated with the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2. According to the City of Bakersfield’s 2026-2030 Sewer Rates & Fees Report, long-term capital improvements are needed to provide service to existing customers and will result in significant additional costs to the District. As shown in the City’s 2026-2030 Sewer Rates & Fees Report, the annual capital improvement costs to the District will increase to an additional $3 million per year starting in 2030. Operation and Maintenance costs billed to the District are expected to increase 3.5% annually. The suggested sewer rate increases below are based upon the findings and recommendations contained in a sewer rate study completed by AECOM, an engineering consultant. This study will be available for public inspection and review, during normal business hours, on and after March 23, 2026, at the District’s office. The proposed rate changes are necessary to ensure sufficient revenues are generated to meet the ever-increasing costs of providing sewer services to our customers.