Timeline: Cerritos Water & Sewer Rate Increases (2025–2026)
Understanding how the proposed water and sewer rate increases developed is important for residents who want to stay informed about local decisions and their potential impact on the community. Below is a timeline of key events leading up to the City Council’s January 2026 vote.
2025 — Council Spending Decisions
In 2025, the Cerritos City Council approved several budget and policy decisions prior to issuing the Proposition 218 notice regarding water and sewer rates. These decisions included:
Changes to council travel policies allowing international councilmember travel to be funded from a consolidated city travel budget.
Additional city festivals and events.
Later in the year, when substantial water and sewer rate increases were proposed, some residents questioned whether these spending priorities aligned with the need for large increases to utility rates.
November 2025 — Proposition 218 Notice Issued
In November 2025, the City of Cerritos mailed a Proposition 218 Notice proposing significant increases to water and sewer rates.
According to the City’s notice, the average ratepayer currently paying approximately $65 per pay period would see their bill increase to approximately $260 per pay period by the fifth year of the proposed rate schedule.
This represented approximately a four-fold increase in the average water bill over a five-year period.
Residents also noted that the notice was mailed only in English, despite Cerritos having a diverse population that is approximately:
62% Asian
14% Latino/Hispanic
Under Proposition 218, the rate increases could only be automatically blocked if written protest forms were submitted by a majority of affected parcels (50% + 1) before the public hearing.
November 2025 – January 2026 — Community Protest Period
During the protest period, residents organized outreach across the city to inform property owners about the proposed increases and the Proposition 218 protest process.
During this time:
Residents reported that some councilmembers discouraged submission of protest forms, despite the expectation that elected officials remain neutral during the protest process.
Questions were raised regarding statements made to community groups about the financial relationship between the City’s General Fund and the water utility, including claims about the magnitude of past subsidies.
Community volunteers worked to collect and submit protest forms from property owners across Cerritos.
January 26, 2026 — Public Hearing on Rate Increases
A public hearing was held at Cerritos City Hall on January 26, 2026.
At the hearing:
More than 6,400 protest forms were submitted by residents and property owners.
The City Council chambers were filled beyond capacity with residents attending the meeting.
Numerous speakers addressed the Council requesting that the proposed rate increases be reduced or reconsidered.
Although the protest forms did not reach the legal threshold required under Proposition 218 to automatically block the increases, the City Council still retained the authority to modify or reduce the proposed rate schedule.
The Council ultimately voted to proceed with the rate increases as proposed.
Key Fact
Projected Impact of the Rate Schedule
Period | Average Pay-Period Bill |
Current | ~$65 |
Year 5 | ~$260 |
Projected Increase: Approximately 4× increase over five years.
Considerations for Cerritos’ Aging Population
Cerritos has a significant population of older residents, many of whom have lived in the community for decades and are now retired or living on fixed incomes.
According to U.S. Census data, approximately 20% of Cerritos residents are age 65 or older, representing an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 seniors in the community.
For many of these residents, utility bills are a predictable and unavoidable household expense. Because water service is an essential utility that cannot easily be reduced or substituted, significant increases in water and sewer rates can place a disproportionate financial burden on seniors and other residents living on fixed incomes.
Unlike working households, residents relying on Social Security, pensions, or retirement savings often have limited ability to increase their income to offset rising costs. As a result, some community members have expressed concern about how a multi-year increase in water and sewer rates could affect seniors and long-time homeowners who may already be managing rising costs for healthcare, insurance, and other essential expenses.
Community members have suggested that future discussions about infrastructure funding and rate structures should take into account the financial realities faced by seniors and other residents living on fixed incomes.
Concerned Citizens of Cerritos will continue to share information and source documents so residents can better understand the decisions that affect their community.
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