On December 16, 2025, the City of Inglewood will hold a public hearing on proposed increases to trash and water rates—an action that, if approved, will burden residents who are already grappling with rising living costs across every aspect of daily life. While cities sometimes need to adjust fees to maintain essential services, Inglewood’s approach raises serious concerns about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning. Residents should view these proposed increases with caution—and speak out.
At the center of the issue lies the City’s water fund deficit, which has ballooned to $12 million, currently being propped up by the City’s general budget. That should alarm every taxpayer. Instead of addressing the structural causes of this deficit, the City now appears poised to shift the financial burden directly onto households and small businesses. Before ratepayers are asked to pay more, the City owes them answers: How did this deficit grow unchecked?
Proprietary funds are revenue
received by the City through direct billing.
This includes the Water, Parking &
Traffic, Sanitation, and Sewer fees.
The 2025-2026 adopted budget shows
anticipated revenue of $58 million
and projected expenditures of
$73 million.
110 WATER FUND (1,156,717) 25,321,000 - 24,164,283 33,555,301 - (9,391,018) (Page 30)1
What measures, if any, were taken to reduce internal costs, increase efficiency, or secure external funding? And perhaps most importantly, how do we know these proposed increases will prevent the deficit from growing again?
Raising rates without explaining how the City plans to correct what led to the shortfall is not responsible governance—it’s passing the buck.
Trash collection is no different. Residents already pay among the higher municipal service rates in the region, yet the City has not clearly demonstrated why additional increases are necessary now. Are the proposed hikes driven by new contracts? Rising operational costs? Deferred maintenance? Future capital improvements?
070 SANITATION FUND (7,538,935)
22,944,535 - 15,405,600
25,390,669 -
(9,985,069) (Page 30)2
These questions deserve real, accessible answers—ideally well before a public hearing, not buried in technical reports or late-release agenda packets.
Moreover, raising essential service rates in a community where many residents are cost-burdened renters and working families risks deepening existing inequities. Inglewood has undergone rapid development in recent years, and residents have heard repeated promises that such growth would strengthen the City’s finances. Yet the community is now being asked to pay more for basic resources like water and trash pickup—at a time when the City’s own financial management has created a multi-million-dollar gap.
City leaders often speak of Inglewood’s “bright future,” but a sustainable future requires disciplined fiscal stewardship. That means demonstrating that the City has exhausted all internal cost-saving measures, renegotiated contracts where possible, improved billing and leak detection systems, and sought state and federal assistance—before turning to residents’ wallets.
The December 16th hearing is not a formality; it is one of the few opportunities residents have to demand accountability. Rate increases should be a last resort, not the first solution offered after years of financial shortfalls.
Inglewood deserves a plan—not just a price hike.
Residents should show up, speak out, and insist on transparency, financial responsibility, and a fair approach to managing essential services. The City must fix its own house before asking its residents to pay more to keep it running.
Marvin McCoy is a longtime Inglewood resident
Editor’s note: If written protests are submitted by a majority of affected property owners, the proposed rate increases will not be imposed. As a courtesy, this notice is being mailed to rate payers in addition to the property owners, but only written protests from property owners will be counted, per Proposition 218 noticing requirements. Written protests may be sent to or delivered (AND PAY TO SEND CERTIFIED TO HAVE PROOF IT WAS RECEIVED) on or before Monday, December 15, 2025 12:00 p.m. to:
City of Inglewood Office of the City Clerk
One West Manchester Boulevard
P.O. Box 6500
Inglewood, CA 90312
- Inglewood 2025-2026 adopted budget https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/19731?fileID=26828 ↩︎
- Inglewood 2025-2026 adopted budget https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/19731?fileID=26828 ↩︎
