County staff wants the Board of County Commissioners to impose an updated fee system to connect to the county’s recently consolidated water and sewer system.
Tim Wilson, the county’s water resources manager, told the board on Wednesday, July 31, that they are recommending imposing a fee of $6,858 per equivalent residential unit to connect to the water system and $12,632 per one equivalent residential unit to connect to the sewer.
The fees will apply to Boston Harbor, Grand Mound, Tamoshan, and Olympic View. The county consolidated the water and sewer systems in these communities in 2023.
The recommended fees were based on the results of a study by FCS Group, which the county contracted to re-evaluate the so-called general facilities charge for the entire service area covered by the consolidated system.
According to Wilson, a general facilities charge is a one-time connection fee often charged to developers to pay for the current infrastructure and offset the cost of future expansion needs.
“This prevents the cost of expansion from being passed on to our existing customer base and ensures that growth is paying for growth,” the manager explained.
Wilson added that the general facilities charges in Grand Mound and Boston Harbor are outdated and have not been adjusted in over 25 years.
The combined water and sewer general facilities charges in Grand Mound are currently $3,285, while the fees total $17,767 in Boston Harbor.
The fees were determined based on provisions from RCW 36.94.140. Joe Plahuta, a senior water resources engineer, explained that the payment is calculated by adding the cost of the current utility system and the cost of future planned projects divided by the estimated capacity of the system after future planned projects are completed.
The board did not decide whether to accept the recommended fees, but county staff will propose including these fees in the county’s mid-term budget.
Wilson added that future changes to the general facilities charge will be made annually depending on local consumer cost indices.
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KatAshe
When I lived in Ventura California many years ago, my house was on city water, but a septic system. There was a sewer system that ran up the middle of my street that was put in for a newer development. The laws, then, stated if my septic system needed to be replaced, I was required to pay to tie in to the sewer, rather than install a new septic tank.
Friday, August 2 Report this
JnNwmn
This is hard to believe..."The combined water and sewer general facilities charges in Grand Mound are currently $3,285, while the fees total $17,767 in Boston Harbor.""
Saturday, August 3 Report this
Southsoundguy
Communities should control their own water supply.
Saturday, August 3 Report this