Bill would let utilities use additional funding sources to waive connection charges in large inland counties

Senate Bill 5,662, heard March 18 by the House Housing Committee, would allow municipal utilities in counties east of the Cascade crest with populations greater than 500,000 to use additional funding sources to pay for waived utility connection charges for properties developed by certain affordable housing providers, subject to recorded covenants and conditions, speakers said.

Audrey Vaisik, staff to the committee, summarized the bill as a targeted change to existing waiver authority for municipal water and sewer connection charges. Under current law, local waiver programs may be funded only from general funds, grants, or other identified revenue streams; the bill authorizes other funding sources for qualifying counties if the waiver is conditioned on a recorded covenant with price restrictions and household income…