GETTING I-RATE
Originally uploaded in the September 27, 2025 edition.
Bishop Public Works Director Nora Gamino brought a rusted piece of pipe with her to Monday night’s City Council meeting. It came from one of the four-inch water mains on Willow Street, which erupted two months ago.
“When we talk about underground infrastructure and needing to replace pipes, this is what we’re talking about,” Gamino said. “We need to invest in our infrastructure.”
She was introducing the next steps to roll out proposed water and sewer rate hikes presented at last month’s council meeting.
In August, Gamino and a L&T municipal consultant presented three different rate options to fund Bishop’s water and sewer systems. The pair pointed to the city’s newly drafted water Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which identified approximately $3.97 million in critical rate-funded projects between 2027 and 2030 for pipeline replacements, improvements to wells, and vehicles and equipment. They presented the draft sewer CIP, which calls for $2.8 million between 2026 and 2030 for deferred maintenance, collection system rehabilitation, and preparation for the new consolidated regional Bishop Area Wastewater Authority (BAWA) treatment plan development.
The council at that meeting decided on a modified version of the second rate option for water rates and a modified first option for sewer. On Monday night, Gamino and the L&T consultant presented the proposed rate changes. For a single family residence, this plan would increase the water bill from $33/month to $82.34/month by July 1, 2030 and the sewer bill from $42 to $66.14/month. A single senior residence would see an increase from $24.75 to $61.17 for water and $31.50 to $48.28 for sewer.
These proposed rates were adjusted for multi-family residenital units, which include anything that isn’t a stand-alone, single family home. This would increase the water bill from $24.75 to $61.17 when detached and $23.10 to $61.17 when attached. Senior multi-family units monthly water rates would increase from $18.57 (detached) and $17.33 (attached) to $44.70.
The sewer bills for these units would increase from $31.50 (detached) and $29.40 (attached) to $48.28. For seniors, this would be $23.62 and $22.05 to $35.72.
“Your residential rate structure is very complicated,” the L&T consultant said. “We are working to simplify it.”
The presentation also included commercial water and sewer rates. These establishments were divided into three categories: A, B, and C, depending on their typical water/sewage use. A, low use, included banks, gyms, offices, and warehouses. B, the middle ground, encompassed coffee shops, beauty salons, bowling alleys, and churches, and C was reserved for fast food, mortuaries, and restaurants.
Irrigation, applied to institutions with significantly landscaped areas, such as schools, churches, city parks, and some commercial parcels like the lumber yard and garden center, would see the largest increase in rates. An irrigated acre is currently billed $9.90/month for water use. The proposal would increase the irrigation bill to $233.77/month after July 1, 2026, a 2261% change. The fairgrounds would not be included in these charges, as the onsite plumbing does not use city water for irrigation, per an arrangement the fairgrounds has with the city. The grounds would only be charged for indoor water services.
Throughout the presentation, Gamino and the consultant emphasized the importance of water meters, and how much simpler the rate structure will be once they are implemented.
Council member Jose Garcia wondered if the city’s general funds could help alleviate rate costs for Bishop’s low-income, vulnerable population. He pointed to the 1% sales tax increase Bishop asked its residents to pay in 2020. This fund wasn’t intended for this purpose, he said, and instead was meant to support fire, police, and sidewalks.
“Thanks to that, the city is now in a much better financial position than we were five years ago,” Garcia said. “I think it’s time for the city to give back to the community and use the general fund to pay for some of this and not just put the bill up to the residents.”
“Is that something that’s even legal to do?” Mayor Karen Kong asked.
It is legal, apparently. But it raises a whole new set of questions. Would James Hoover, senior low-income residential renter living on a low-income, qualify for this type of financial relief if his landlord, Gary Colbert, does not? Both were present for public comment. Kong outlined this scenario.
“This will really make more of my income go to rent,” Hoover said.
“You’re going to drive people out of rentals,” Colbert echoed. “There’s more people like Jim.”
Final recommendations will be presented on October 27. On November 11, a notice of the increased rates will be mailed to property owners and ratepayers in English and Spanish. The rates will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
The public can stop these rates from going into effect. If more than 50% of the Bishop population protest in written form, then the council would be unable to move forward.
“We can keep limping along like this,” Gamino said. “It’s not what we want, but we can do it. It’s called deferred maintenance for a reason. But all infrastructure is like that.”
