Coronado residents will see increased sewer rates starting July 1 as the city formally approved wastewater rate adjustments for sanitary sewer services on May 5.
There are 18 customer classes that pay for the wastewater system, according to the city. That includes single- and multi-family homes, hotels, schools, Navy bases, and restaurants.
Single-family homeowners in Coronado will see their sewage rates skyrocket by almost 60% over the next six years, local restaurants will face fee increases of 35% and some customers, like commercial buildings, will have an increase of almost 135%.
Currently, single-family units pay just under $49 a month for wastewater services. By 2031, they will pay just under $77. Commercial businesses pay around $59 and will end up paying around $138 by 2031. Naval Air Station North Island pays $3,500 at the moment and will pay just over $7,000 by 2031.
City Manager Tina Friend said that wastewater fees are collected from residents and businesses solely to cover costs of the operations.
City staff and a professional rate consultant, Raftelis, conducted a fee study over the last 18 months to figure out appropriate rate increases.
Although the jump seems high, city staff explained that it was because Coronado hadn’t reevaluated its rates since 2014.
“This financial plan … is not an excessive one,” said John Wright, Raftelis’ financial advisor. “It’s basically designed to try to equalize our ending cash reserves at the end of our planning horizon with our target reserves.”
