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Pasco council approves steep water and sewer rate increases; connection fees delayed until 2027
Summary
After hours of public comment and council debate, the Pasco City Council on Jan. 20 adopted Ordinance No. 4804 raising water and sewer rates and setting higher connection fees to take effect at a later date; the measure passed 5–2. Council also accepted a $14.7 million low‑interest loan for Butterfield plant work tied to the rate plan.
The Pasco City Council voted 5–2 on Jan. 20 to adopt Ordinance No. 4804, approving a multi‑year increase in water and sewer rates and setting higher maximum connection fees for new development.
City staff presented a rate study that, as written in the ordinance, phases water rate increases of roughly 20.75% per year for the first three years and a fourth‑year increase of about 9.5%; sewer rates were proposed as an 8% increase each year over four years. Staff said the proposed maximum connection fee for a single‑family home with a 3/4‑inch meter would be $6,148 for water and $4,583 for sewer, and the ordinance delays connection‑fee implementation until Jan. 1, 2027, while rate increases would take effect March 1, 2026.
Director Sarah, who led the staff presentation, said the increases reflect a mix of replacement needs and capacity projects, including a full replacement of the aging Butterfield Water Treatment Plant and several…
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