Santa Cruz City Council votes to increase water rates by 50 percent over 5 years

The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase water rates by 50 percent over a five-year period.

Under the proposal, water rates would go up 10 percent as of Oct. 1 and would go up another 10 percent each year until July 2018.

A public hearing was held at the city council meeting Tuesday night.

The city’s water department says the rate increases necessary to maintain facility and operating costs, as well as help with lost revenue created by the current drought.

To read the full proposal, click here.