33.5% Increase in L.A. Sewage Fees Adopted

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a 33.5% increase in sewage fees and tentatively approved a parking tax and increased trash pick up charges.

The average homeowner’s sewage fee will increase from $10.43 to $13.93 a month beginning July 1. However, officials said that if a rate payer manages to cut back water use by 10%, in accordance with Mayor Tom Bradley’s proposed water-rationing, the fee will rise to only $12.54.

The parking and trash measures failed to garner the unanimous vote needed for formal approval during the first reading of an ordinance and will be reconsidered next Tuesday.

The parking tax would be levied on all those who park in commercial garages and parking lots, and is expected to raise $22.5 million in the coming fiscal year. Monthly sanitation charges would increase from $1.50 to $3 for homeowners and from $1 to $2 a month for residents of apartments and condominiums.