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Westfir draft budget includes 7.4% water and 6.8% sewer rate increases; wastewater plan funded by DEQ loan
Summary
Budget Officer Nicole Tritten presented a draft that includes a 7.4% consumer water rate increase and a 6.8% sewer rate increase; the city noted a $100,000 DEQ forgivable loan for the Wastewater Facilities Plan, currently 53% complete, and deferred-maintenance needs at the sewer plant.
Budget Officer Nicole Tritten told the Committee the draft budget includes a 7.4% increase in consumer water rates and a 6.8% increase in sewer rates to address rising labor costs, deferred maintenance and aging facilities.
Nicole reported that Westfir received a forgivable loan in June 2024 of $100,000 from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Clean Water State Revolving Fund to develop a Wastewater Facilities Plan; she said the project was about 53% complete and the remaining work was budgeted in the Sewer Fund with ARPA and the Sewer Reserve Fund covering roughly $17,000 not covered by the grant.
Committee members raised concern about solid-waste buildup at the wastewater plant and the need to replace sand filters at the water plant; Nicole noted the water plant is older and replacement work would be a significant job. The Wastewater Facilities Plan, she said, will provide more complete diagnostics to guide capital spending.
