Hermiston council approves 3% water and sewer rate increase, raises several utility fees

The Hermiston City Council on Jan. 20 adopted Resolution 23 53 to update the city’s master fee schedule, raising combined water and sewer rates by 3 percent and adjusting several related utility fees.

City Utilities Manager (presentation by Mister Morgan) told the council the administration used a three-year rolling average of the Engineering News‑Record Construction Cost Index and recommended a 3% increase to smooth inflationary swings. Morgan said applying that change to a median residential account would raise combined water and sewer charges by about $3.44 per month.

The resolution also updates special water and sewer charges and utility-billing fees. Council approved raising the disconnect/reconnect fee from $20 to $75, increasing the meter-tampering fee from $25 to $100 (with staff noting customers who cause repairs may be charged additional costs and criminal charges may apply when appropriate), and reducing the meter-inspection fee from $15 to $0. Morgan said cybersecurity grants from state emergency management will offset some IT purchases included in the master fee updates.

Councilors pressed staff on impacts to low-income households and asked how many customers are repeat disconnects; staff said many are repeat cases and the higher fee is intended as a deterrent but can be waived under certain circumstances. Morgan also explained an industrial user rate for Columbia Basin Biosciences will now be indexed with the other rates; that change is expected to add roughly $5,000 in revenue annually. The 3% rate change is expected to produce about $300,000 in additional annual utility revenue.

After discussion, Councilor Roberts moved to adopt Resolution 23 53; Councilor McCarthy seconded. The measure passed unanimously.