Cerritos to Hold Meetings on Proposed Water and Sewer Rates

Cerritos residents are invited to learn about potential increases to the City’s water and sewer rates during a series of upcoming meetings.

The Cerritos City Council is considering a water rate funding structure that would support critical infrastructure investments such as treatments of water wells and annual valve replacements. The Council will determine whether to recommend rate increases upon receipt of water and sewer rate studies at its October 27 meeting. Potential rate increases are subject to approval by residents as part of California’s Proposition 218 process. If approved, rates would be phased in over a five-year period beginning in February 2026.

The City will host three community open houses to engage residents about potential water and sewer rate increases. Attendees are asked to RSVP by calling the Public Works Department at (562) 916-1220. Seating is limited to 30 people per session at the following times and locations:

• Friday, September 5, at 2 p.m.: Corporate Yard Lunch Room; 16540 Marquardt Ave.
• Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m.: Corporate Yard Lunch Room; 16540 Marquardt Ave.
• Tuesday, September 9, 10 a.m.: Cerritos Senior Center; 12340 South St.

The City Council’s consideration of rate increases are in response to previous direction to more closely align water and sewer operation costs with expenses. To sustain these services, the City has for years been subsidizing its Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds with revenue from its General Fund.

Enterprise Funds are designed to function like a stand-alone utility, where the costs of providing service are supported by the users who benefit from that service. While subsidies have helped keep resident rates unusually low, they have also placed increasing strain on the General Fund. Dollars that could have gone to repairing streets, maintaining parks, and enhancing community services instead had to be redirected to cover water and sewer deficits.

The funding scenario under consideration by the City Council would gradually phase out these subsidies over the next five years, putting water and sewer services on a path to long-term financial sustainability.

More information about the City’s water and sewer rate considerations, including background on this topic and important upcoming dates, can be found at cerritos.gov/waterrates.