Astoria council adopts 6% water and sewer rate increases to help pay for major infrastructure projects

Astoria City Council on June 16 approved resolutions to raise both water and sewer rates by 6% for fiscal year 2025–26, a move city staff said is needed to help pay for aging infrastructure and planned capital projects.

City Manager Marion Spence introduced the item as “the formal action to implement utility rates for the city Of Astoria,” and told the council the increases were recommended after the budget committee discussion earlier this spring.

The change comes as the city faces multiple capital projects. Spence and Public Works Director Jeff Harrington told the council the largest is a $10,000,000 wastewater treatment facility currently under construction; the utility is expected to finance about half of that cost. Council heard that three sewer lift stations built in the mid-1970s require replacement in a project estimated at $3,600,000, with roughly $1,600,000 of loan financing expected. Spence also identified a slow sand filter project (about $2,200,000), a major transmission line (Urban waterline) and potential Bear Creek Dam spillway work (roughly $3,000,000 depending on design).

Harrington said the community’s infrastructure is old and deferred maintenance is large: “We do have a lot of outstanding, deferred maintenance that we need to fund,” and cautioned that delaying repairs raises costs.

Councilors asked staff for context on bill impacts and the capital plan. Spence said a typical residential customer using 7,500 gallons per month would see a monthly bill of about $167 now and an increase of roughly $8–$10 under the new rates. Councilor Davis noted that each percentage point in the rate yields roughly $75,000–$150,000 in revenue and that the capital improvement plan contains “well over $1,000,000,000” in outstanding projects.

There were no public speakers on the water and sewer rate resolutions. Councilor Wong moved adoption of the water resolution, seconded by Councilor Lump; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with Councilors Davis, Mazzarella, Adams, Lump and Mayor Fitzpatrick voting aye. The council then moved and approved the sewer resolution by the same margin.

The council and staff stressed the city will continue to pursue grants and other outside funding; Councilor Adams said staff and council “work very hard to take advantage of all grant opportunities, whether it be federal or state.”

The rates take effect with the fiscal year 2025–26 utility billing cycle. City staff said the increases are aimed at addressing immediate capital needs while the city pursues grants and financing for larger, multi‑year projects.

Votes at a glance: Water resolution (adopted) — mover: Councilor Wong; second: Councilor Lump; roll call: Davis (aye), Mazzarella (aye), Adams (aye), Lump (aye), Mayor Fitzpatrick (aye). Sewer resolution (adopted) — mover: Councilor Wong; second: Councilor Lump; roll call: Davis (aye), Mazzarella (aye), Adams (aye), Lump (aye), Mayor Fitzpatrick (aye).

What’s next: Staff said planned work will proceed through engineering, permitting and debt-financing as needed; more detailed project schedules and financing plans are expected to come back to council in future work sessions.