The City of Turlock's proposal to increase industrial sewer rates by 400% raises serious concerns about infrastructure planning and economic development. While maintaining the city's infrastructure is crucial, the process behind this rate hike requires careful review.

The City's approach to this rate increase reveals fundamental flaws in its long-term planning and communication strategy. Instead of working with businesses to develop a sustainable plan, they've opted for a massive, sudden increase without exploring viable alternatives even as simple as a phased implementation. Most concerning is the absence of proactive dialogue with the large employers who will bear the brunt of these increases — the very stakeholders whose insights could have helped shape a more workable solution.

The numbers are significant: Industrial users face a four-fold rate increase next year. This can easily represent an increase of hundreds of thousands of dollars with minimal advance notice or opportunity for input.

The City conducted its rate study without consulting the major industries impacted by the increase. In our efforts to address our concerns by reaching out to the City and City Council members, it’s clear that the impacts on large employers was not fully understood before this process was initiated. Additionally, the City generates over $1.5 million annually from selling treated wastewater, yet when asked to do so cannot, or would not, clearly explain where these funds go or why such a substantial rate increase is needed now.

The requests we have made in one-on-one meetings with the City and City Council members are simple and realistic:

1. Pause the current Proposition 218 process

2. Hold dedicated meetings with affected industries to understand operational impacts

3. Explore alternative funding sources for infrastructure improvements

4. Consider a gradual rate increase that businesses can plan around

5. Explain clearly how current wastewater sale revenues are being used

6. Develop a more transparent and inclusive process for future infrastructure and rate decisions

The industrial employers of Turlock are vital to our local economy. We want to be part of the solution and are ready to work with the City to ensure both reliable infrastructure and continued economic growth. By collaborating with valuable industrial businesses Turlock can develop a sustainable approach to infrastructure funding that supports both municipal needs and economic prosperity. We urge the City to engage in meaningful dialogue with these stakeholders before making critical decisions that impact us all.

—      Stacey Kollmeyer Johnson, Executive Director, and Maryn Pitt, Policy Director, Manufacturers Council of the Central Valley