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Bothell council asks King County to rethink steep wastewater rate hikes
Summary
Bothell unanimously authorized a mayoral letter asking King County to consider more equitable, affordability‑focused wastewater rate structures after staff warned a proposed 12.75% annual increase through 2030 could double treatment costs for the city's sewer utility and threaten fund balance.
Bothell staff asked the council on May 12 to transmit a letter to the Metropolitan King County Council urging reconsideration of proposed wastewater treatment rate increases that would significantly raise the city's wholesale treatment costs.
"The King County Executive has proposed a 12.75% annual rate increase for that treatment between the years of 2027 and 2030," Utilities Director Boyd Benson summarized. Staff said wholesale treatment is already the single largest expense in the city's sewer utility and that under the current county forecast the treatment component could roughly double over the next five to six years, creating pressure to increase local user rates or find alternative revenue sources.
The proposed council letter asks King County to develop a more equitable rate structure that better reflects who benefits from capital investments and to evaluate affordability impacts across jurisdictions. Council members questioned cost drivers; staff pointed to major capital programs including combined sewer overflow projects and Brightwater‑era regional investments as significant contributors to King County’s capital program.
Council voted unanimously to have the mayor sign the letter. Several members said they supported regional investment in water quality but asked King County to consult cities and consider targeted affordability measures and cost allocation that reflect differential benefits across jurisdictions.
