Mason County staff recommend steep, staged increases for small water systems; commissioners ask for public outreach

At a Mason County Board of Commissioners utility‑rate workshop, county staff presented recommended 2026 rate increases for several small water and sewer systems and asked the board for direction to take the proposals to customers for feedback.

Staff recommended roughly 8–11% increases for North Bay Case Inlet, Belfair (sewer) and Russellwood (sewer); much larger adjustments were proposed for two small water systems — about 45% for Russellwood water and about 80% for Beards Cove water — to address operating shortfalls and build reserves. Staff offered incremental scenarios (5%, 10% and staged multi‑year increases) and a structural option to raise the base consumption from 400 cubic feet to 700 cubic feet for some systems to reduce the immediate "shock" to high tier users.

The proposals matter because county staff said some systems are not covering operation and maintenance (O&M) or capital reserve needs. For example, a 10% scenario for Beards Cove would generate about $102,000 in annual service charges but, under that scenario, staff said capital reserves would still fall short. Staff and commissioners repeatedly said longer‑term capital work — pipe replacement, well pumps and other projects — will depend on grant funding and legislative support.

Staff presented the recommended changes by utility: North Bay Case Inlet — staff recommended about a 8–9% increase; Belfair Sewer — about 10–11%; Russellwood Sewer — about 10%; Russellwood Water — staff showed a potential 45% increase (noting that would amount to roughly $8 per week in the staff example); Beards Cove Water — staff showed an 80% scenario (staff noted this equates to roughly $9 per week in their example) and also provided a 10% option for that system so the board could see alternatives.

Staff explained options to soften the impact, including spreading increases over multiple years or increasing the consumption included in the base rate from 400 cubic feet to 700 cubic feet so more usage is billed at the base rate. "You get about 75% more water in that base rate than you do otherwise," a staff presenter said of the 700‑cubic‑foot base proposal.

Commissioners pressed staff on affordability, grant strategy and next steps. Several commissioners said they wanted to limit hardship for customers and emphasized outreach: staff should "go hit the streets, talk with our customers, and then bring that back," one commissioner said. Commissioners also discussed using legislators and grant programs to fund major capital work, and asked staff to return with community feedback and refined numbers.

No formal rate decisions were adopted at the workshop. The board directed staff to present the recommended scenarios to affected customers, return with public input, and bring final proposed rates through the regular budget and public‑hearing process. The commissioners scheduled follow‑up consideration at the next briefing/meeting (the board asked staff to return in roughly one week with next steps).

Background and context: staff said Russellwood water has been held at low rates for a long time and that moving toward the prior ‘‘code’’ rate would help restore O&M and reserves. Staff estimated pipe replacement costs at a little over $1 million per mile and said Beards Cove contains about 5 miles of pipe, noting that a 20% grant match on a multi‑mile project would require substantial local match funds. Staff also noted the county has roughly a year of improved meter data showing 60–80% of customers fall within base and tier‑1 usage, which informed the board discussion of moving the base from 400 to 700 cubic feet.

The workshop closed with no vote on rates; a motion to adjourn was made and the board set a follow‑up meeting to continue the discussion.