The Umatilla City Council approved the increase 3-1 on Tuesday night.
City Manager Bob Ward said the rates will help build water and sewer reserves. Two years ago, the city increased its water rates for the first time in 15 years, followed by an increase in sewer rates – the first time in 16 years – last year. Ward said the previous increases were not enough to grow a reserve fund. Before the recent increases, the city had to pull from reserves to cover day-to-day expenses.
The 4-percent increase translates to about $1.50 more per month in sewer for a single family, and a water bill for 5,000 gallons of water could see an increase of $0.75 to $8.69, depending on water meter size.
“The city staff and elected officials are doing their best to be good stewards of public dollars,” Mayor Dave Trott said. “I know we all have tight budgets and those on fixed income have tighter budgets, but we all share in this together, and I don’t know what else we can do.”
Trott pointed to a water line break in 2005, which cost more than $500,000 to repair, as an example of why the city needs a reserve fund.
The new rates mean a home with a 1-inch meter using 5,000 gallons of water a month will pay $21.60.
Last month, the League of Oregon Cities released a “Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Rate Survey” report. According to that document, the average cost per 5,000 gallons is $34.88. For cities in Eastern Oregon, the average rate is $31.73.
In other business:
• The council accepted the bargaining agreement with the Umatilla Safety Association.
• Declared a former police car surplus propertly for disposal.
• Trott read a proclamation naming the week of May 3-9 “TRCI Employee Recognition Week.”
• The council approved an agreement with the Library District.
• Casey White-Zoleman, Jer Pratton and Bryan Wolfe presented information about the Blue Mountain Community College bond proposal.
