Cerritos City Council Approves New Water and Sewer Rate Schedules

Details

The Cerritos City Council approved new water and sewer rate schedules during its meeting on January 26 that will support continued operations and long-term utility infrastructure improvements. The Council also approved a low-income assistance program that will provide eligible utility customers with a $40 discount on their bimonthly bills. The new rate schedules are effective as of February 1, 2026. Utility customers will receive notice of these changes on their upcoming bills. 

The rate schedules were adjusted pursuant to the State of California’s Proposition 218 process, which included a public engagement period beginning in late 2025 and culminated with a public hearing at the January 26 meeting. 

The new five-year rate schedule will support the City’s ability to address its aging, deteriorating, and failing water and sewer infrastructure, including $23 million in critical repairs. The rate schedule will also bring self-sufficiency to the City’s Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds, which for years have been operating at deficits and are subsidized by the General Fund. 

The City Council also directed the City Manager to provide a report at an upcoming meeting on alternative revenue options to offset costs and allow for potential future decreases to water and sewer bills. Options to be presented include the possibility of a utility user tax, transactions and use tax, and/or grant funding. 

For More Information 

More information about the Proposition 218 process can be found at cerritos.gov/waterrates. For details about the new rates and low-income assistance program, visit the water billing page at cerritos.gov/waterbilling.