Issaquah committee trims stormwater capital plan, staff says rates can be eased to 6.25%

Issaquah — City staff on May 6 presented a revised 2027–2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) stormwater section to the City Council Planning, Development and Environment Committee, saying the draft prioritizes repair and replacement work, defers some habitat and restoration projects, adds bridge-scour and permitting work, and lowers the near-term stormwater rate projection to 6.25 percent after reprioritization.

The CIP update covers 2027 through 2032 to align the plan with Issaquah’s new biennial budget cycle. Andrea Snyder, deputy city administrator, told the committee the presentation was “to review our 2 year update to the CIP, specifically on stormwater.” The Committee of the Whole will review the full CIP June 16, with possible adoption June 23.

Why this matters: the CIP is a planning document that informs future budgets and utility rates. Staff said revenues — especially general fund support and real estate excise tax (REIT) receipts — will not cover all projects in the first two years without prioritization or new funding. The committee’s discussion centered on reducing rate pressure on households while maintaining critical infrastructure.

Staff said the stormwater fund is now projected to require a 6.25 percent rate increase to cover operating costs and a reduced set of capital projects. “We were able to get the stormwater fund down to a 6.25% rate increase to cover operating and that sort of reduced capital list that we had discussed with…