City of Camas Meeting - March 16th 2009

Rising Rates - Coming Soon!

“CAMAS" — The city council on Monday approved residential and commercial rate increases for water, sewer and stormwater fees, effective April 1.

The council also voted unanimously to hold off adopting the remainder of an aggressive, five-year utilities rate increase plan. That followed 90 minutes of pleas from several residents who cited tough economic times and fixed incomes. Even so, the new 2009 rates represent the steepest jump scheduled in that five-year plan.

Monthly water rates will rise 5 percent, sewer rates 34 percent and stormwater rates 46.3 percent on April 1. The rate increase applies equally to home and commercial users.
A Camas ratepayer with an average use of 800 cubic feet of water per month, according to city data, would pay another $11.18 per month more than the $45.11 now charged for the three services. That’s an increase of nearly 25 percent.

City staff told the council the cost of extending debate on higher rates to April would be around $50,000. Upon hearing that, members chose to approve only the 2009 rate hikes.
“The only downside that I can think of is that we’ll be here again in six months,” said Monte Brachmann, Camas public works director.

The larger, five-year plan for rate hikes, developed with help of a consultant group, was designed to help pay for $25.5 million in water and wastewater repairs, upgrades and expansion.