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County moves stormwater‑rate setting from code to resolution; ordinance adopted after hearing
Summary
The Board adopted an ordinance removing storm and surface water utility rates from Thurston County Code chapter 15.06 and authorizing the board to set rates by resolution; staff said the ordinance is an administrative change and will not by itself change current rates.
Thurston County commissioners adopted an ordinance Sept. 16 to amend Thurston County Code chapter 15.06 so that storm and surface‑water utility rates and charges are set by Board resolution rather than being fixed in the county code.
Tim Wilson, Thurston County Water Resources manager, told the board the change aligns the stormwater utility’s rate‑setting process with the county’s water and sewer utilities and provides a more efficient administrative mechanism for periodic rate adjustments. "The proposed ordinance is considered an administrative change only and will not by itself affect or adjust current stormwater utility rates," Wilson said.
Wilson also said county staff had posted the proposed ordinance and that, as of 3 p.m. the day of the hearing, no written public comments had been received. During public comment, Matt Jackman, chair of Hopkins Drainage Ditch District No. 2, objected to county control of stormwater funds and asked the board to release funds to elected drainage‑district treasuries so landowners can use the funds for local stormwater planning and maintenance.
The board closed the public hearing, and a motion to approve the ordinance passed. County staff said a proposed resolution with a rate sheet aligned to the 2026–2027 budget cycle will be presented later this year; the ordinance itself does not change current billing.
