Blaine City Council unanimously approved the city to increase water rates by 17.5 percent and stormwater and sewer rates by 5 percent each. The rate increases will go into effect during the March 2024 billing cycle.
An average Blaine family will pay about $10 more per month, city finance director Daniel Heverling said.
The city didn’t increase the electric bill because the electric fund has a surplus and the city received a rebate from Bonneville Power Administration.
The utility increases continue several years of scheduled rate increases. City council first increased the water utility by 17.5 percent for the March 2022 billing cycle, and plans to raise it 17.5 percent annually until 2025, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light.
The stormwater and sewer increase is less than the last increase, which went into effect March 2023.
Council has been raising the rates to make up for years that rates didn’t keep up with inflation.
Utility fees pay for their respective service, meaning water bills only pay for water utility maintenance.
“The 17.5 percent increase in water is following the recommendations from rate studies we have done in the past,” Heverling said. “These rate increases are necessary to keep up with capital project costs that are anticipated in the future.”
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Crypticfeed
Instead of increasing water rates, why not do an audit on the new Point & Pay software they are using to see if it's working as intended. I can guarantee you there discrepancies.
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