Santa Barbara residents will be paying about $2 per month more for their water and another $2 a month for their sewage treatment. City water planners say increases are necessary to cover the costs of replacing existing infrastructure. While a handful of speakers opposed the increases, the Santa Barbara City Council approved them unanimously. Compared to rate hikes for Goleta and Carpinteria residents, Councilmember Das Williams said Santa Barbara’s rate increase is exceptionally mild.
