Philomath council adopts Resolution 24‑23 to update 2025 SDC rates using ENR index

The Philomath City Council approved Resolution 24‑23 on Dec. 9 to set the city’s system development charge (SDC) rates for 2025. Staff said the annual update uses the Engineering News‑Record (ENR) construction‑cost index as the methodology to keep SDCs aligned with recent construction costs.

A staff presenter explained the ENR index and said the index change this year was modest; the update is an annual adjustment rather than a methodology change. “It’s the ENR index. It’s a nationwide index that’s used,” staff said, describing the approach to updating charges and noting that changes to methodology would receive longer public notice while routine annual adjustments typically require only short notice.

Council moved to adopt Resolution 24‑23; the motion was seconded and the council voted unanimously in favor. Staff said the adjustment will be effective Jan. 1 and that the city will notify the public. Staff also noted a forthcoming update to the stormwater SDC methodology tied to a recent stormwater master‑plan update.

Council discussion included questions about whether major capital projects (for example, the water treatment plant) are still factored into the SDC methodology and how often the city reviews master plans and methodologies; staff responded that full methodology reviews occur every 5–7 years and that master plans are revisited on longer intervals.

The resolution passed and staff will publish updated SDC schedules and notices to the public.