Cowlitz County reports small equipment-rate rise, proposes 4% water and sewer increase pending 2026 budget adoption

Cowlitz County Public Works and Finance staff told the county commissioners on Thursday that routine updates to equipment and utility fees will be included in the 2026 budget package, with small changes recommended now for the board's information. Public Works presented proposed equipment (ER&R) hourly rates that average about a 2% increase and recommended a 4% across-the-board increase to water and sewer rates for 2026. Kathy Funk Baxter, Cowlitz County finance director, told commissioners the fee-setting items were being presented for information now and would be formally adopted with the county's overall budget resolution.

The equipment rates cover the county’s internal equipment-revolving (ER&R) fund for road vehicles and other heavy equipment. Sean Roey, Public Works, described the methodology: each vehicle category (dump trucks, graders,…