Citing a rise in costs to deliver gas and water to the public, the Long Beach Board of Utilities Commissioners on Tuesday approved higher rates, as part of their $397.4 million budget for the fiscal year that begins in October. Under the plan, water and sewer rates will go up starting Oct. 1. Under the proposal, the monthly charge for the typical single-family home will increase by 12% for water and sewer rates. This translates to an average increase of $8.26 per month for a single-family water bill and $1.47 for a monthly sewer charge. For gas services, the board approved a 15% increase starting in August, followed by a 12% hike next April. For a typical single-family home, this translates to an estimated monthly increase of $4.67. … The increase in rates, officials say, are meant to offset the rising costs of construction, imported water and other “inflationary pressures.”

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