Budget Analysts Tell San Diego How to Help Shrink County Water Rate Hikes

Budget analysts for San Diego say city officials should demand big changes at the cash-strapped County Water Authority, including a thorough re-thinking of its entire operations and urgent action on out-of-state water sales.

The recommendations come with the city facing cumulative water rate hikes of 90% over six years, and the water authority predicting it will need to increase the rates it charges the city and other local agencies 100% to 150% by 2035.