Santa Clara approves five-year schedule of water rate increases
On June 24, 2026, the Santa Clara City Council voted 4-0 for a water rate increase. The proposal in the packet raises each of six tier rates by 20 to 60 cents for 2026-27 and 2027-28, with a further 10 cents per tier from 2028-29 through 2030-31.
Continuing story: Auditing Santa Clara
The Santa Clara City Council voted 4-0 on June 24, 2026 to approve a water rate increase, according to the meeting's minutes. Councilwoman Hinton moved to approve the increase and Resolution No. 2026-14R, and Councilman Hendrickson seconded. Council members Hendrickson, Pond, Hinton and Caplin voted aye. [1]
The minutes say no members of the public came forward at the public hearing. [1]
The schedule
The five-year proposal in the meeting packet sets six tier rates. For 2026-27 and 2027-28, tiers 1 and 2 rise by 20 cents, tiers 3 and 4 by 30 cents, and tiers 5 and 6 by 60 cents. The current rates of $1.20, $1.73, $1.98, $2.73, $3.38 and $4.68 become $1.40, $1.93, $2.28, $3.03, $3.98 and $5.28. [2]
For 2028-29 through 2030-31, the proposal adds 10 cents per tier, to $1.50, $2.03, $2.38, $3.13, $4.08 and $5.38. The schedule does not state an effective date. [2]
The proposal says staff will present the Washington County Water Conservancy District's rate increase to the council each year and reevaluate the approved increase if the district's increase is above $.15 per 1,000 gallons. [2]
The city's utilities page, viewed Oct. 24, 2026, says its rates are effective as of July 1, 2026. It lists the same six rates per 1,000 gallons, $1.40, $1.93, $2.28, $3.03, $3.98 and $5.28, for bands ending at 9,000, 16,000, 23,000, 30,000 and 36,000 gallons and above, added to a base charge that is $37.25 a month for 5/8 by 3/4-inch and 3/4-inch meters. It shows the current rates only. It does not list the 2028-29 and later steps, so it does not show that those were enacted. [3]
Projected revenue
A rate options chart in the packet projects $220,306 in added revenue with the 20-, 30- and 60-cent increases and $295,890 with 30-, 40- and 70-cent increases. The chart does not state what period either figure covers. [2]
The minutes of the council's June 10 work meeting describe the plan as a tiered water rate increase designed to generate additional revenue for infrastructure maintenance. [2]
The rate schedule is the proposal included in the June 24 packet. The June 24 minutes cited are the copy included in the July 8 packet for approval.
Sources
- Santa Clara City Council · July 8, 2026 packet (June 24, 2026 minutes)
- Santa Clara City Council · June 24, 2026 packet (June 10 minutes, Ordinance 2026-11, water rate proposal)
- Santa Clara City · Utilities page, water rates labeled effective July 1, 2026 (viewed Oct. 24, 2026)
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.