As water rate increases are proposed for most of the water customers in the Ukiah Valley, First District Mendocino County Supervisor Madeline Cline urged residents to stay informed and engaged.
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority, which is the consolidation of Redwood Valley, Willow, Millview, Calpella and the city of Ukiah, (recently) discussed rate increases, which they are asking for due to the need for upgrading aging infrastructure,” said Cline as part of her report during the Dec. 16 meeting of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, referring to a press release from the organization that had been sent this week.
“I would encourage everyone to check that out, to ask questions of the individual boards, and to be involved in the process,” Cline said.
According to the press release sent by the city of Ukiah, “member agencies of the Ukiah Valley Water Authority are advancing proposed water rate increases to ensure they can continue to operate safe, reliable water systems and address years of deferred maintenance and underfunded infrastructure needs.”
The rate increases are reportedly being proposed following “a financial study launched earlier this year by four of the five UVWA member agencies who all had expired rate studies and were due for updated analysis and rates. This includes the city of Ukiah, Millview County Water District, Redwood Valley County Water District, and Willow County Water District. The study was conducted by Hildebrand Consulting, an expert in utility financial plans; it analyzed revenue requirements and existing debts, and projected operating and capital costs.”
The release notes that “each district separately reviewed the rate study, evaluated its system needs, and will pursue adoption of its new rate schedules through the publicly noticed Proposition 218 process.”
More details on each district’s proposed increases below:
Millview proposes increasing water rates by 15% on March 1, 2026, followed by 14% increases on July 1 of 2027, 2028, and 2029. For a typical single-family home (using about 7,500 gallons per month), the monthly bill will rise $7.15 in 2026 and the monthly increase will be $9.91 in 2029. The last increase to Millview’s water rates was in 2011. Redwood Valley proposes a 30% increase on March 1, 2026, followed by 12% on July 1, 2026, 6% on July 1, 2027, and 3% on July 1 of 2028 and 2029. For an average customer that amounts to a monthly increase of $23.95 in 2026, but by 2029 the monthly increase is only $3.81. Willow proposes increasing rates by 19% on March 1, 2026, followed by 12% increases on July 1 of 2027, 2028, and 2029. For an average customer that amounts to a monthly increase of $8.08 in 2026 and a monthly increase of $7.61 in 2029. The city of Ukiah proposes increasing water rates by 6% on March 1, 2026, followed by 4% increases on July 1 of 2027, 2028, and 2029. For an average single-family home that amounts to an increase in the monthly bill of $5.588 in 2026 and a monthly increase of $4.27 in 2029. Calpella County Water District, also a member of UVWA, is already implementing its own 5-year rate schedule adopted in 2023 and therefore did not participate in the current rate study.In compliance with Proposition 218 requirements, a public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center. Under Proposition 218, water rates cannot exceed the actual cost of providing service, and customers must receive 45-days’ notice, an opportunity to protest, and a public hearing before any increase is adopted.
The city of Ukiah also noted that “separately from this rate adjustment process, it is pursuing a state planning grant to fund engineering and design work needed to connect infrastructure across the UVWA member agencies – an effort that would improve system flexibility, drought preparedness, and long-term reliability. The SAFER Program, “Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience,” would fund infrastructure improvements to connect the agencies, including pipelines and interties, storage tanks, booster stations and wells.”
For more information about the Ukiah Valley Water Authority and ongoing regional water efforts, visit cityofukiah.com/uvwa.
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