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Board ratifies Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission budget, approves 5% rate increase
Summary
Lane County commissioners voted 5-0 to ratify the 2025–26 Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission budget and capital improvements program, approving a 5% regional rate increase and moving forward a multi‑year capital program that includes major plant projects.
The Lane County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday ratified the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission’s fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget and capital improvement program, approving the MWMC order and associated budget as presented.
The board voted 5-0 to ratify order 25051306 after a presentation by MWMC Executive Officer Matt Stauder and Wastewater Division Director Michelle Miranda. Stauder said the regional budget addresses rising costs and regulatory obligations and funds projects to protect the Willamette River.
Stauder told the board the regional budget is built on a 5% rate increase that will take effect July 1, 2025. In the operating summary, staff estimated that a 5% increase equated to about $1.60 per month for an average user using 5,000 gallons a month; average use in Eugene is somewhat lower. Stauder outlined capital projects totaling roughly $98 million on paper but noted the realistic CIP will be closer to $85 million after the decision not to move forward immediately with a recycled water project.
Key capital items in the program include a roughly $30 million aeration-basin upgrade to improve treatment performance and energy efficiency and replacement of switchgear and medium-voltage transformers with expected mid‑2026 completion dates; staff also highlighted a new administration and operations building under construction. Michelle Miranda described treatment capacity and operations, noting average summer flows of roughly 25–30 million gallons per day and wet‑weather capacity of up to roughly 277 million gallons per day.
Stauder said the budget reflects increasing materials, supplies and utility costs and higher personnel-related costs driven by PERS obligations and health-care costs; personnel expenses rose in the regional budget (a 7.6 increase reported by staff). He said poplar-tree harvest-related costs previously charged to capital have been placed in the operating budget for this year.
Commissioner Christopher Farr praised the commission’s professional work; the board then moved, seconded and approved the order to ratify the budget and CIP. The MWMC will return to its commission June 13 for final adoption and the cities of Springfield and Eugene have already ratified the budget during their council meetings.
