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Philomath council holds listening session as residents push to reshape proposed utility rate increases
Summary
At a Dec. 8 listening session the Philomath City Council sought public feedback on a multi-year utility‑rate proposal. Residents questioned the pace of increases, tier cutoffs and treatment-plant sizing; the council asked staff for modeling and usage data before deciding on final rates.
Philomath — The Philomath City Council spent most of its Dec. 8 meeting hearing residents' concerns about proposed water, sewer and stormwater rate changes and the structure that would determine who pays more.
Council President Christopher McMoran opened the non‑voting listening session, saying the proposals are still a work in progress and that the council would not take action that night. He framed two separate questions for residents: how to structure rates (base vs. volumetric, tiers) and what dollar amounts are needed to support system costs and the new treatment plant.
Public testimony emphasized affordability and fairness. Van Hunsaker said the proposal would raise his household bill by roughly $450 a year and urged the…
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