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Oak Harbor adopts five-year utility rate increases to shore up water, sewer, solid-waste and storm-drain funds
Summary
The Oak Harbor City Council adopted Ordinance 2027 after a public hearing and staff presentation showing rising costs — notably a major increase in water purchase charges from Anacortes and higher solid-waste tipping fees — that would push utility fund balances negative without rate adjustments.
Oak Harbor city officials adopted a five‑year utility rate plan on Sept. 2 after staff warned current charges would drive the city’s enterprise fund balances toward negative without changes.
Finance Director and Deputy City Administrator David Goldman told council the city faces multiple cost pressures: Island County waste‑transfer (tipping) fees rose about 21% for 2025 plus inflation; the city’s wholesale water purchase from the City of Anacortes increased roughly 25% over budgeted levels; and general inflation is raising operating and replacement‑reserve needs. Goldman said the proposed schedule would raise the average residential utility bill by…
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