Water Rates Hiked for Some Temecula, Murrieta Residents

Water rates will go up for some Temecula and Murrieta residents due to a newly adopted budget.

The Rancho California Water Board passed a budget Thursday that includes a rate hike for customers.

To read the meeting's agenda, click here.

The average household in Temecula and Murrieta will pay approximately $15.12 more next year because of the rate hike, which will go into effect with the budget beginning July 1.

One customer was not too happy to hear about the rate hike.

“I do everything I can to conserve and use as little water as possible,” said Jackie Strohm, a Rancho California Water District customer. “I wish they wouldn’t have increased our rates."

The new operating budget is $62.5 million, down from the current spending plan of $67.8 million, however the price of water imports from the district’s main supplier, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is expected to go up 7.5 percent.

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Jeff Armstrong explained this to the 7 member board of directors at the water board meeting.

He also said that farmers and growers will see higher rates as an agricultural water supply program is being phased out.