Residents want to stop City Council from increasing water rates

UPDATE 11/28/18:

Calexico City Council voted YES on increasing the water rates. Residents crowding council chambers shared their concerns and pleaded with council to postpone the vote until a missing council member would be present or until more impact studies were made. Residents complained the current studies on water rates were flawed; council agreed that the current study had deficiencies. A resident opposing the study and the proposed vote was ordered to leave chambers after harsh words were exchanged between the resident and Mayor Lewis Pacheco.

Some residents complained the water rate increase meant nearly $500 a month for them.

After the vote, residents walked out very upset. Several met outside and promised to bring legal action against the council.

_________________________________________________________

Calexico residents said they plan to stop City Council from increasing water rates at tonight’s regular meeting. They said they pay too much already – a flat $100 dollars per user a month. They said the new rate might increase the fee by as much as $36.

City officials said they need to guarantee that water infrastructure improvements continue for the next several years, that’s why they’re considering the rate increase.

Residents plan to show up in force tonight to demand an evaluation of water rates and an overview of available water funds.

Resident Joong Kim said, “They want to change the system to basic charges of $17.40 and the plus every hundred cubic feet they’re using, which is if you’re using 3,000 cubic feet, just like a minimum, as the city is charging us, it’ll cost you $36 more.”

Please watch our newscast for more information.