Spokane7
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August 7, 2011 in City
City officials want to raise water rates
Council to weigh plan Monday
Most of Spokane’s water rates would increase by nearly 8 percent and the base rate paid by each customer would go up nearly 20 percent under a plan the City Council will consider Monday.
City administrators say the big increase is needed largely because officials have declined to raise rates in previous years, including last year.
“When you get a 0 percent rate increase, it starts forcing you to burn through your reserves,” Utilities Director Dave Mandyke said.
The recommendation for a rate boost comes as administrators are proposing a 13.5 percent rise in sewer rates, largely to cover the cost of required changes to improve sewage treatment and keep raw sewage out of the Spokane River.
The City Council revamped the water rate structure starting this year so that people who use about 32,500 gallons of water in a month pay more, but that plan was crafted with the goal of not changing the total amount collected. Officials estimate 60 percent of customers will pay less for their water this year.
City Council President Joe Shogan said the water proposal for 2012 is in flux, but he believes an increase near the level proposed is needed.
“We have water mains breaking all the time,” Shogan said, noting a major break in May on North Perry Street that flooded the street and created a giant hole in the pavement. “We have some very, very old water infrastructure.”
Shogan also noted that the street replacement program approved by voters in 2004 added financial pressure on the water department because the city has opted to replace water mains in those streets while the roads are torn up.
The current plan would increase all residential rates 7.65 percent. The base rate paid by all residential customers would increase by that percentage plus $1, which amounts to nearly a 20 percent increase.
Mandyke said the goal is to give the department financial stability. When much of the department’s revenue depends on how much customers consume, it’s hard to know exactly how much the city will earn. In years when rainfall is above normal, for instance, water use falls along with water bills.
“Any increase in the base gives us predictability,” Mandyke said.
City Councilman Richard Rush said he’s sympathetic to Mandyke’s concerns, but with about half of the city’s water revenue coming from base rates, the rate structure has enough predictability as it is. He said increasing the base rate adds too much burden on the poor. He prefers that all new revenue be paid through water consumption rates, which would shift some of the burden to those who use a lot of water.
City Councilman Jon Snyder said many of the projects needed to maintain the city’s water system are to deal with peak summer demand.
The current rate proposal “impacts low-income, low-volume users too much,” Snyder said.
Water rates will be debated at the council meeting that starts at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
| Base rate | Current | Proposed |
| $8.30 | $9.93 | |
| Consumption rates (Charge per 100 cubic feet*) | ||
| First 400 cubic feet | 20 cents | 22 cents |
| More than 400 cf to 1,000 cf | 45 cents | 48 cents |
| More than 1,000 cf to 1,800 cf | 85 cents | 92 cents |
| More than 1,800 cf to 4,000 cf | $1.35 | $1.45 |
| More than 4,000 cf | $1.85 | $1.99 |
MAC faces angry crowd 
DHF on August 07 at 5:24 a.m.
13.5 % sewer increase. Pretty expensive Dump if you ask me. Glad I dont live in your out of control spending and taxing city.
vdubonorcas on August 07 at 6:31 a.m.
Don’t buy property in Kettle Falls. That Crappy little town charges more for water and fees than just about any other in the state. I think Hitler actually works in the City Hall and handles the water bills. Don’t even try to pay online. Too far forward thinking. I have always wondered why the town needs a sign hanging on the door of city hall that states: “It is illegal to threaten city employees”. How many times has that happened?
Randy Davis
lewis8457 on August 07 at 7:35 a.m.
Ione Washington is the same way their average water bill is $85.00, and that does not include trash and sewer.
The city is making it impossible to live here, sewer goes up every 3 months, property value is falling like a rock while the property taxes rise every year.
our streets will literally kill your car and if that doesn’t do it our murderous cops will.
sell and get out of Spokane if you value the contents of your wallet.
lewis8457 on August 07 at 7:39 a.m.
if everyone stopped paying their property taxes most of the issues in Spokane we could demand and get some change but as long as they get the steady flow of dollars why do they care?
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 8:59 a.m.
Brilliant solution, Lewis. That’ll show ‘em……stop paying your property taxes, which will result in a lien placed upon the property, making you unable to sell said property. Continue to not pay property taxes for 3 years, and the county will be quite happy to seize and auction off your delinquent property for a relatively low price (to someone who WILL pay their taxes).
What a cunning political strategy.
DickAdams on August 07 at 9:00 a.m.
Remember Mayor Verner lied when she said awhile back there were no city tax increases. At the same time, there was an increase in our city utility tax (Comcast). The city utility taxes is the number one source of revenue for the city of Spokane. Verner needs to be given the boot. IMO, Verner doesn`t even know how many services in the Lilac City have a city utility tax tacked on.
DickAdams on August 07 at 9:07 a.m.
BTW, the penalty water rate recently enacted doesn`t even take into consideration the users lot size. I guess you know what that means for the million dollar condo owners, who also have a real estate tax exemption. A 2 cent increase. Its another expense for Spokane`s poorest while the movers and shakers in the downtown core business owners benefit at their expense.
Squid on August 07 at 9:41 a.m.
What happened to our city????
We have had huge increases in our utilities. Whadda ya mean the rates haven’t gone up? Mine are close to double what they were ten years ago.
DickAdams on August 07 at 9:42 a.m.
I almost forgot. Ask, Verner to name another city in the United States that have a city utility tax with an effective rate of 25%. Its the highest in the US. Just name one, Verner!!
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 9:43 a.m.
Dick….the utility tax will always continue to be the major funding source for the very expensive general fund expenditures (i.e. police & fire). The alternative (which other Washington cities heavily utilize) is the locally unpalatable Business & Occupation tax (which tends to be a real non-starter in Washington cities adjacent to competitors with non-B&O tax revenue mechanisms). Every newly elected official soon learns that the utility tax is the only major revenue lifeline they’ve got (unless they want to decimate police and fire….which scares the hell out of most citizens). Politically, there isn’t any ‘dog in that hunt’.
The necessity for the 13.5% increase in sewer/storm capital upgrade funding won’t go away…..unless the residents want to pay debt service on the bonds that will have to be issued to pay for federal and state mandated upgrades on the treatment plant and collection system. Condon, and any other city officials you might care to elect, will be totally unable to stop those expenditures (actually, that fact plays to such candidates’ advantage….once elected, they’ll still have to raise rates or borrow….and they’ll truthfully be able to state that it’s beyond their power to stop).
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 9:56 a.m.
Squid….you have the misfortune of living in a relatively large city that discharges to a very small river (the water quality regulations, under the Clean Water Act, require that allowable pollutant discharge quantities take into consideration very low river flows). Further complicating the situation is the fact that we’re sitting on top of an aquifer that’s our sole source of drinking water (and over that is perched thousands of septic drain fields…..). [yes, I soon expect some moron to post that septic systems do an adequate job of treating polllutants…which is a patently idiotic piece of malarkey]
Finally, Spokane’s infrastructure (water & sewer) is experiencing the same sort of neglect that 100’s of American cities across America are facing; most of the buried system is very old…people never want to fund such things….and now the ‘piper’ must be paid.
The only way to avoid such costs is to move to some acreage where you can have your own system (or move to Athol, which should give any sensible human being the shivers).
DickAdams on August 07 at 10:21 a.m.
Another question for Verner. Why was the utilities reserve account used for the Y purchase (reckless spending)? When that money was spent and city hall needed to find a source to replace the money Verner decided to increase water rates which increases exponentially the city utility tax money . Rob Peter to save Paul.
DickAdams on August 07 at 10:35 a.m.
Spokane must make a decision and it has to be, to tax the downtown business owners who receive preferential treatment relative to other businesses through out the city. A B&O tax using borders of the business core downtown might be the solution. We can not continue to tax Spokane`s poorest and hand out corporate welfare to those business that reap the benefits. Spokane relative to its size is the only city in the state without a B&O tax.
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 10:39 a.m.
Dick, I fully agree with your funding logic, but you know that the powers that be will never let that happen!
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 10:51 a.m.
Of course, you have to realize that such an approach goes against the current (and much celebrated) philosophy that the rich must be given every advantage, since they are the ‘holy job creators’. Apparently you’re not a subscriber of the ‘trickle down’ theory, or you’ve been ‘trickled on’ enough already?
reservedparking on August 07 at 10:53 a.m.
S_C, you forgot one thing on your list:
Citizens (?) who want it all, but who want to pay nothing or next to nothing for it.
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 10:58 a.m.
reservedparking…..absolutely correct.
Dazzeetrader11 on August 07 at 10:59 a.m.
Verner covering her self made shortfalls. Nothing more. City Council isn’t without blame on this. Here’s the list of the prponents: Shogan Doing damage before he’s gone in a few months), Waldref ( mostly being a mom these days and just not on top of the City’s business), Rush ( the most incompetent of the bunch) and Snyder (proponent) who is a blantant socialist when it comes to everyone else’s life….(Mr bike and tree with Rush.)
Those 4 with Verner have spent and spent.
Now, it’s time to pay for these losses. Of course they blame new statutes ( they passed them in general) requiring more tax and fee money. Don’t be fooled…those 5 are the sources..
They all need other jobs.Parenthetically, Mandyke…when did anyone in SPokane see a water main break? These excuses…just don’t wash.
Vote for Condon..his pledge is to reverse this robbery. Vote for Corker ( who did NOT go along with these increases). Vote for Mike Allen (experience on Council and oppses Rush). Salvatori will stop this crazy spending.
What Spokane has in City Hall is tax and spend people. Change that in November. It’s up to Spokane.
I do notice this is now announced after 40% of the votes have been cast. Just another reason to actually vote on voting day! You care/ You show up and vote. Sly way of getting votes before you drop bombs on the public.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on August 07 at 11:36 a.m.
I like all the people upset about this. Maybe if we turn our water department over to a corporate company they will be able to give you water cheaper and replace the water pipes for free and never raise your rates.
You know people, kind of like Avista who never raises our rates and are perfect neighbors in our community who do no wrong because they are a corporation and not the government.
monkeyman on August 07 at 11:37 a.m.
Good! Everybody should tighten their belts. Good for the environment as well.
Rest of the world (yes, even Europe) has a difficult time believing that most homes here have lawn sprinklers using perfectly potable water as if it were free. Reduce your water use and your bill would remain same as before, right?
p.s. Please also take into account the energy used in getting the water to your homes.
Squid on August 07 at 12:13 p.m.
Everyone should tighten their belts, so the City can loosen theirs a couple holes.
The City of Spokane and Spokane County are spending out of control while the citizens are struggling to find work.
Economic recovery for our area will slow if the cost of living increases. How many ways have we had the cost of living increase in the past couple years? Too many to list.
My employees have had the cost of gas, rent, Avista, food, and many other cost increases. They want raises to cover those costs. Meanwhile, my customers want me to bid against Mexicans and Russians, who now work for about half of what they did two years ago. The only thing I can do is reduce my bids and try to show quality differences, but customers generally don’t appreciate quality differences.
When do you say enough is enough? Should I throw in the towel and get a job? Put more families on the unemployment line? There are no jobs and if you do get a job, it’s very fragile. You could lose it at any time. No one is spending money, and now that the interest rate will rise, I expect the faucet to turn off completely.
I can tell you that I am struggling and so are most people. Now is not the time to increase the cost of living.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the guy on the other side of the fence can afford to pay your bills. Our City needs to cut spending, like everyone else in these times of distress.
You can’t fix this economy by increasing the cost of living. Cost of living does trickle up.
Squid on August 07 at 12:33 p.m.
Tell me….. If you have an hourly or salary job, have you had a talk with your boss about a raise lately, because your cost of living has increased?
Squid on August 07 at 1:35 p.m.
Forgot about Obamacare. How will that cost of living increase affect business? Just adds to the pile.
lewis8457 on August 07 at 2:47 p.m.
spokane citizen pull your head out i never said anything about going past 3 years and lose your home. The only power we have is the amount of money we give them, w/o it they are dead in the water and open for communication for a change.
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 3:00 p.m.
Lewis…you’re the one who needs to ‘pull your head out’. Holding back your property taxes (even for a single year) doesn’t make a political statement….it merely puts a county tax lien on your home that cannot be removed until your taxes are paid up in full….which renders your home unmarketable and incapable of being put up for sale (you know, so you can leave this horrible burg that’s responsible for all of the abject misery and drama in your sad life).
Stop paying your taxes, and you’re just another deadbeat….not some sort of civic patriot.
Gorlas on August 07 at 4:46 p.m.
I have been told that a lot of this rate restructure and increase is so that Airway Heights can be piped in.
I don’t know how much truth there is to it, but personally I think if A.H. wants to be a city let them pay the costs for either our services or to set up their own.
I was going to stop watering my lawn this year due to the restructuring but I didn’t. I guess I will be after this passes.
To the governments benefit you will now be able to separate the ‘well off’ from the poor just by driving around looking at yards.
The next thing they’ll come up with is a fine for not maintaining your property because your not watering your yard.
They WILL get their (your) money one way or another.
http://talkspokane.proboards.com
Spokane_Citizen on August 07 at 4:53 p.m.
Gorlas….AWH has already been ‘piped in’ for many years. In fact they’re almost finished with their own treatment plant. The fact of the matter is that Spokane has been delaying stormwater and plant upgrades for a long time….and is stuck complying with very old parts of the federal Clean Water Act.
D Statler on August 07 at 10:28 p.m.
Can I get a lower class taxbreak? I can’t qualify for earned income credit. I can’t write off my mortgage interest. I am paying more for insurance.I havn’t seen a raise in three years. My car tabs are due.The fridgerator is almost empty.My kids moved back in. Seems like everyone around me is getting something handed to them. I,on the other hand just keep getting dinged time and time again.When will it ever stop?
BTW. I can understand not watering your property.Not to save on water. To keep the assessors from raising our assessed values again. This really is a messed up place to live and raise a family. Going on 50 years now.I must not be a very fast learner! LOL