2025 Sewer Rate Study
Proposed Sewer Rate Increase
In 2024, City Council commissioned a sewer rate study to consider increasing sanitary sewer rates over the next 5 years. The city of Salinas owns and operates the municipal sanitary sewer system that serves residents and businesses across approximately 12,430 acres. This system includes over 280 miles of gravity sewer mains, force mains and 11 lift stations, which convey sewage to the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant operated by Monterey One Water (M1W). The rate study will assess the potential implications of on going operating and maintenance costs, capital improvement program needs, current and future debt obligations, changing customer demands, and future development. Salinas’ wastewater program is a self-supporting enterprise of the City that includes the sanitary sewer system, staff, equipment, and supplies and debt obligations. The wastewater program is required to generate the revenues (through rate payer service fees) to cover the ongoing costs of operations, maintenance, administration, regulatory compliance, debt service, capital improvements and maintenance of prudent financial reserves. For FY 25-26 the equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) sewer rate is anticipated to be $16.35.
The tentative schedule for consideration of new sewer rates is:
March 4, 2025 | Finance Committee - Presentation of Rate Analysis Findings
March 11, 2025 | City Council #1 - Presentation of Rate Analysis Findings
April 8, 2025 | Finance Committee - Recommend approval of the Rate Study and Rate Schedule
April 22, 2025 | City Council #2 - Request approval of the Rate Study and Rate Schedule; Request authorization to Proceed with Proposition 218 Process; Set Public Hearing Date for June 17, 2025 and Protest Process (45-day Notice)
June 17, 2025 | City Council – Staff informed the City Council of inaccuracies in the Rate Schedule.
July 1, 2025 | City Council – Directed staff to distribute Proposition 218 Public Hearing Notices for proposed sewer rate increases based on the updated Sewer Rate Study and Sewer Rate Schedule with public hearing date set for September 23, 2025.
August 25, 2025 | City Council - End or deadline of protest period for City to receive written objections from property owners under AB 2257
September 23, 2025 | City Council - Public Hearing and Sewer Rate Adoption
October 1, 2025 | New rates effective
Council Actions and Background Documents
January 10, 2012
City Council accepted the sewer rate study and approved Proposition 218 to increase sewer rates to $5.45.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t6pSjowXfk
May 2, 2023
City Council adopted the Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v5ZRof9RJ8
September 24, 2024
City Council approved an update to the Sanitary Sewer Development Impact Fees.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaTQcXqK88Y
March 4, 2025
Finance Committee received the sewer rate study findings and recommended completion of the study using scenario one.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8hgz77O9RI
March 11, 2025
City Council received the sewer rate study findings and approved the completion of the study using scenario one.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2ZEV2Iz88
April 8, 2025
Finance Committee recommended approval of the Sanitary Sewer Rate Study and Rate Schedule for presentation to City Council.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WOz1njpGzA
April 22, 2025
Request approval of the Rate Study and Rate Schedule; Request authorization to Proceed with Proposition 218 Process; Set Public Hearing Date for June 17, 2025 and Protest Process (45-day Notice)
Meeting Docs:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KILFu38_PI0
June 17, 2025
Staff informed the City Council of inaccuracies in the Rate Schedule.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR_QLG7JlHA
July 1, 2025
Directed staff to distribute Proposition 218 Public Hearing Notices for proposed sewer rate increases based on the updated Sewer Rate Study and Sewer Rate Schedule with public hearing date set for September 23, 2025.
Meeting Documents:
Meeting Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbbu1ARkkRM
For additional information regarding the proposed sewer rate increase, please contact:
City of Salinas Public Works Department, Engineering Division
200 Lincoln Ave, City Hall, Second Floor, Salinas, CA 93905
pubworks@ci.salinas.ca.us or (831) 758-7381
Sewer Rate Study 2025
The City of Salinas has performed a 2025 Sanitary Sewer Rate Study for existing and potential future sewer utility user rates within the City based on future CIP needs and conclusions of the 2023 Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update. City sewer rates and fees were last approved for adjustments in 2012 through proposition 218 protest vote process. This Spring 2025, the Public Works Department is bringing forth a new 2025 Sanitary Sewer Rate Study for Consideration.