… Property owners in Bakersfield are reacting after being notified of a proposed increase in sewer rates. Residents and businesses are voicing concerns, claiming the proposed rates will add to their financial burden. “What a bad time, were they even thinking?” That’s what Bakersfield resident Linda Goncalves said came to her mind after receiving one of the 106,000 sent notices to property owners in Bakersfield, letting them know about a proposed increase to sewer rates. If approved, the rates for a single residential home will shoot up from 239 dollars a year to 950 dollars a year, an increase of almost 300 percent. ”Staff determined that increase was needed,” stated Public Information Officer with the City of Bakersfield Joe Conroy. “These costs for maintenance and keeping up the system is actually increasing much faster than we expected.”

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