Water utility board approves updated fees and fines, including higher delinquency penalty and tiered certification charge

The Water Environment Services (WES) Board of Directors voted 4–1 to approve a set of fee and fine changes to take effect as part of the utility’s upcoming budget process.

Key changes include raising the delinquent‑account penalty to 2% per month or $5, whichever is greater; a tiered delinquent‑account certification fee that keeps $50 for first‑time certifications but increases the charge to $100 for accounts that have been certified in either of the two prior years; raising the installment‑payment application fee to $500; increasing reimbursement‑district application fees from $500 to $3,490; and setting a sanitary sewer tap‑in fee at $665 to better cover staff time and direct costs. WES staff also proposed phasing in increases to extra‑strength industrial discharge rates over three years to move toward regional averages.

“These adjustments reflect the true cost of service,” Greg Geist, WES director, said. Geist emphasized WES receives no general‑fund support and that the specific items in the fee schedule represent less than 2% of the utility’s annual budget. He said the delinquent‑account certification process is labor‑intensive and that repeat certifications now make up roughly 75% of certified accounts.

Board discussion Commissioner West expressed concern about raising penalties for customers who are already struggling with high living costs. “I don't have a big appetite to increase these fees on people today,” West said, asking whether WES was seeking new revenue or recovering costs. Geist and other staff said WES offers a low‑income discount, payment plans, and a notification process that informs customers of assistance and prevents certification if an account is on a payment plan and has at least one good‑faith payment.

Commissioner Savas, recalling prior experience on water and sewer oversight, said some commercial or repeat accounts effectively treat certification as a business practice; he supported the tiered approach and cited the statutory certification tool as necessary to collect unpaid charges.

Vote and process Commissioner Savas moved to adopt the WES fees and fines package; the motion passed on a recorded vote of 4–1 (Director Fireside — aye; Director Savas — aye; Director West — no; Director Schroeder — aye; Chair — aye). The approved changes will be incorporated into department budget proposals the board will consider in May and June.

Clarifying details - Delinquent account penalty: increase from 1.25% per month (about $0.80 on a small bill) to 2% per month or $5, whichever is greater (proposed). - Certification fee: $50 for first-time certifications; $100 for accounts certified in either of prior two years (proposed tiered fee). - Installment payment application fee: proposed increase to $500 (from $110). - Reimbursement district application fee: proposed increase to $3,490 (from $500). - Sanitary sewer tap‑in fee: proposed $665 to cover ~6.5 hours of staff time and two field visits. - Extra‑strength charges: current treatment‑cost rates cited at ~34¢/lb BOD and ~24¢/lb TSS in WES zones; WES reported regional averages around 67–72¢/lb and proposed a three‑year phase‑in.

Speakers - Greg Geist — Director, Water Environment Services (government). - Erin Blue — Financial Services Manager, Water Environment Services (government). - Commissioner West — Commissioner / Board Director (government). - Commissioner Savas — Commissioner / Board Director (government). - Commissioner Schroeder — Commissioner / Board Director (government). - Commissioner Fireside — Commissioner / Board Director (government).

Actions - Kind: motion - Motion: “I will move that we approve the proposed changes to fees and fines for Water and Environment Services.” (as spoken). - Mover: Commissioner Savas. - Second: not specified in transcript. - Vote record: Director Fireside — yes; Director Savas — yes; Director West — no; Director Schroeder — yes; Chair — yes. - Tally: yes 4, no 1. - Outcome: approved. - Notes: Changes to be included in the departments’ proposed budgets for board consideration in May–June.

Authorities - type: policy; name/description: Clackamas County cost‑recovery policy (board policy adopted in December; directs fees to track CPI and requires board approval for deviations) (referenced_by:["fees_overview"]).

Proper_names [{"name":"Clackamas County","type":"agency"},{"name":"Water Environment Services","type":"agency"},{"name":"Kellogg facility","type":"facility"},{"name":"City of Milwaukie","type":"location"}]

Clarifying_details [{"category":"delinquent_penalty","detail":"proposed increase to 2% per month or $5, whichever is greater","value":"not specified","units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Geist"},{"category":"certification_fee_tier","detail":"$50 first-time; $100 if certified in either of the prior two years","value":"not specified","units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Geist"},{"category":"installment_application_fee","detail":"proposed increase to $500 (covers staff time, council review, recording fees)","value":500,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Geist"},{"category":"reimbursement_district_fee","detail":"proposed increase from $500 to $3,490 (to cover up-front review work and 10‑year administration)","value":3490,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Geist"},{"category":"tap_in_fee","detail":"proposed fee of $665 to cover direct costs and field operations time (~6.5 hours and two trips)","value":665,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Geist"}]

Community_relevance {"geographies":["Clackamas County"],"funding_sources":[],"impact_groups":["residential ratepayers","industrial dischargers","developers"]}

Meeting_context {"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":6,"duration_minutes":60,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"low","history":[{"date":"2024-12-01","note":"Board adopted updated cost recovery policy linking fees to CPI (referenced)"}]}

searchable_tags:["WES","fees","delinquency","certification","tap-in","reimbursement-districts"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_59","local_start":0,"local_end":250,"evidence_excerpt":"As you know, WES receives no general fund support... We're proposing adjustments... less than 2% of Wes's budget.","global_start":762,"global_end":802,"tc_start":"00:12:42","tc_end":"00:13:22","text_sha256":"d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e0a000000000000000000000000000002","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_101","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"I will move that we approve the proposed changes to fees and fines for Water and Environment Services.","global_start":1818,"global_end":1824,"tc_start":"00:30:18","tc_end":"00:30:24","text_sha256":"d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e0a000000000000000000000000000003","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}