City Council To Review Future Utility Rates

From the City of Issaquah: During its Sept. 10 study session, the city council will review recommendations concerning future utility rates. In late 2015, the current rate schedules for water, sewer and stormwater were adopted by the city council for a five-year period from 2016-2020. Looking forward, a rate study was completed earlier this year, which also included an evaluation of the city’s general facility charges (GFC) for each utility.

The utility rate study determined that no change is needed to the already-adopted 2020 rates for the sewer and stormwater utilities. However, due to costs associated with the recently-adopted water system plan and future capital needs, adjustments to the rates and charges for the water utility are proposed for 2020. The proposed increase would be six percent above the already-adopted rates, meaning a typical bimonthly residential water bill would increase by less than $4 per month.

An increase in the GFC, or one-time connection fee, for water service, is also proposed. The proposed GFC would increase from $6,029 to $8,673. Meanwhile, single digit increases in rates for all three utilities are also proposed for 2021-2024.

Public comment is welcomed at the Sept. 10 meeting, and no action will be taken. The city council is tentatively scheduled to vote on the proposed increases during its Oct. 21 regular meeting.