The City of North Bend will hold a public hearing to solicit input and comments on a proposed water rate increase on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 7PM during the regular City Council meeting, which will be held online using Zoom meetings.
The City is proposing an annual 5.5% water rate increase for 2022-2026 and new General Facilities Charges (GFC) for water connections to help fund normal operations, maintenance and planned capital improvements.
The proposed increases were determined by a Water Rate Study recently completed by FCS Group, a firm contracted with the City.
The City intends to issue low-interest bonds to fund approximately $23.5 million of anticipated capital improvements, including the replacement of several miles of aging asbestos concrete watermain pipes in older neighborhoods, mitigation water projects, and a portion of the water delivery system for the Army National Guard project.
By law, the City’s water utility must be self-sufficient, with customer rates and GFCs as the sole revenue sources. It is estimated that most of the anticipated capital improvements (approximately 70%) will be funded by GFCs, maintaining the Council’s policy of growth paying for growth. [Note: The watermain replacement capital project cannot be funded by GFCs as it is not growth related.]
Oral comments about the proposed rate increases can be presented during the May 4th virtual Zoom City Council meeting. Written comments can be emailed to soppeadal@northbendwa.gov or mailed to the City Clerk at 920 SE Cedar Falls Way, North Bend WA, 98045. Written comments must be received by 5PM, Monday, May 3, 2021.
Detailed access information for the May 4th online Zoom City Council meeting will be provided on April 29, 2021 on the City website calendar.
