Water and sewer rates for Hermiston residents will go up 4 percent on Tuesday, July 1, but an analysis by the city shows local ratepayers will still pay less than most other cities in Oregon and Washington.
The analysis, done by Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., surveyed 51 cities in Oregon, and 70 cities in Washington to identify water and sewer rates charged in 2013. The results show that Hermiston’s rates effective July 1 will rank it as the fourth most affordable city in Oregon for both water and sewer services. The recently-released study only examined rates for 2013, so it is likely that some of the other cities in the survey have also raised their rates since the beginning of the year, said Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan.
Tuesday’s scheduled increase is the second this year, after another 4-percent increase took effect Jan. 1 of this year, and is part of a four-phase water and sewer rate increase plan scheduled for full implementation by July 1, 2015. Morgan said Hermiston’s scheduled rates at full implementation will still rank the city as the seventh most affordable for water and fourth most affordable for sewer service, compared to the other surveyed cities’ 2013 rates.
“Providing water and sewer service to residents and industry is one of the most important basic services a city can provide,” said Morgan. “That’s why it’s vital that calculated infrastructure planning and re-investment continually take place while keeping the rates affordable for users.”
The “2013 Washington/Oregon Water & Wastewater Rate Survey” can be found on the city of Hermiston website.
