Bonney Lake Tables Decision on Utility Rate Changes, Asks for Public Comment at Council Workshop

The Bonney Lake City Council tabled votes on a pair of ordinances May 8 that would change resident sewer and water rates in favor of giving the public another opportunity to comment.

The ordinances – an increase in sewer and a decrease in water rates, should be voted on together, the city council determined at the May 8 council meeting. City officials have expressed hope that the rate changes will balance each other in the citizen’s pocketbook.

The council decided Monday evening to table talks of the ordinances to next week’s city council workshop and open the meeting up to public comment. The city council does not typically accept public comment during a workshop meeting, but in this case council members felt it was important to hear more from citizens how the rate changes will affect their daily lives.

Let the Bonney Lake City Council know how these rate changes will affect your life at the council workshop, next Tuesday, March 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bonney Lake Justice Center.

“It is compromise legislation and it is relatively new, so I think citizens should have the opportunity to comment if they have issues,” said deputy mayor Dan Swatman.

Here’s a breakdown of the two ordinances the council is considering:

An Increase in Sewer Rates

The Bonney Lake Council is considering an ordinance that would increase sewer rates in town by 10 percent a year over the next four years, to bring revenues in line with utility costs.

City studies show that the average homeowner will see their rate increase about $5 per month, if the ordinance passes.

The decision goes back to a 2010 study that determined Bonney Lake’s sewer rates were not enough to cover operations and maintenance on the city system.

A Reduction in Water Rates

The Bonney Lake City Council is considering a reduction in water rates by $2.69 per month, making the base rate $14 per month for residents with additional adjustments for sprinkler rates.

The city hopes that the drop in water rates will encourage citizens to keep their lawns green and that it balances out the sewer rate increase.

The city plans for a relatively low sprinkling rate for parts of the city but an “increasingly progressive rate” for blocks that consume more, according to the ordinance. Thus, the plan reduces the base rate for all city residents and maintains a conservation-based rate structure for higher consumption levels.

The council decided to bring the idea to a vote after discussion on removing the additional summertime rate increase on water consumption. The rate increase was created originally to conserve Bonney Lake’s water supply, but a supply increase has now made that unnecessary.

If passed, the ordinance would reduce the city’s water revenue by $345,790 but would still capture 70 percent of the operating revenue.