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Washington City hears sewer user‑rate proposal; impact fee update scheduled for adoption
Summary
Public works and consultants presented a proposal to normalize lift‑station surcharges, raise sewer user rates about 10.5% initially with step increases, and phase in a larger rehabilitation budget; the city later adopted an updated wastewater impact fee in the regular meeting.
Washington City public works staff and consultants presented a sewer‑rate and impact‑fee analysis on March 12, recommending a modest immediate rate increase and the elimination of a separate lift‑station surcharge by folding it into a unified rate. Public Works Assistant Director Lester Dalton and consultant Aaron Anderson explained the proposal is designed to fund operations, an increasing rehabilitation and replacement (R&R) program and capital projects identified in the city’s master plan.
Anderson summarized the rate model: the recommended plan would phase the system toward an annual R&R budget that reaches roughly $1.1 million over several years, maintain a reserve equal to about 12 months of operating costs, and avoid dropping the sewer fund reserve toward zero. The consultants recommended a 10.5% increase in the early year (roughly “about a dollar per customer” in collection portion), followed by smaller annual percentage increases.
The presenters recommended normalizing a lift‑station premium that previously added a separate fee for customers in lift‑station areas. “I feel like it's a good idea for the city to kinda normalize those rates across the system,” Aaron Anderson told councilors, arguing a single consistent rate made financial administration simpler.
Staff said all proposed rate changes would take effect July 1 to align with budget planning. The presentation also included an updated wastewater impact‑fee analysis; the packet shows a recommended new impact fee of approximately $11.35 per ERU (the consultant's exhibit shows $11.35), replacing the prior $9.90 figure used in the city's fee schedule.
At the regular meeting later that evening the council held the public hearing required by state law on the wastewater impact fee facilities plan and the impact fee analysis. No public comment was offered at the hearing. Councilman Coates moved to approve an ordinance amending the wastewater impact fee facilities plan and impact fee analysis; the council approved the ordinance unanimously (5–0).
Ending: Staff and consultants will return with the formal rate adoption hearing and additional documentation in a subsequent meeting; impact fee and rate changes were presented for adoption in coming meetings and an ordinance to update the impact fee was approved on March 12.
