PORT ANGELES — Clallam County lawmakers will seek alternatives to a proposed 8-percent rate hike for sewer customers in Clallam Bay and Sekiu.
The three commissioners agreed Monday to put the brakes on the proposal in order to find other ways to fund the aging infrastructure.
“Maybe it’s a combination of a smaller rate increase phased in much slower,” Board Chairman Mike Chapman suggested in the commissioners’ work session.
“I just don’t see how in all good conscious we can walk out there this year with an 8 percent rate increase on the table.”
Commissioners said they would delay a call for public hearing on the staff proposal, which would raise Clallam Bay/Sekiu sewer rates 8 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 2017 and 2018.
“I think there’s a better way than just walking into a small community that’s just been so devastated and say ‘Hey we’re from the government; we’re here to pop an 8-percent sewer rate increase on you,’ ” Chapman said.
Other answers
Commissioner Bill Peach, whose district includes Clallam Bay and Sekiu, agreed to work with Public Works Administrative Director Bob Martin and County Administrator Jim Jones to find alternatives to the proposal.
“I think we can be back in a couple of weeks with some alternatives,” Peach said.
For the average residential customer in Clallam Bay and Sekiu, the proposed rate hike would represent about a $4 increase on monthly bills for the remainder of this year, Martin said.
Commercial customers that use more than 700 cubic feet per month would see the largest increase, he added.
The current base rate for residential customers in Clallam Bay and Sekiu is $49, Martin said.
By way of comparison, sewer rates are about $65 in Port Angeles and Sequim, $55 in Forks and $70 for the soon-to-be-built Carlsborg sewer system.
Sewer rates have not increased for Clallam Bay and Sekiu customers since 2011.
“We’ve had normal cost increases, but we’ve had extraordinary equipment expenses in the last year or so,” Martin told commissioners.
“They seem to be increasing because we’re operating a fairly old system now.”
‘Close to zero’
The Clallam Bay/Sekiu sewer fund balance is expected to drop “awfully close to zero” by the end of this year, Martin said.
Members of the Clallam Bay/Sekiu Sewer Advisory Committee backed the proposed rate increase, according to staff.
“They understand that they need to keep their system up and running,” County Engineer Ross Tyler said.
“I have no doubt that if there were other methods that didn’t tap into their pocketbook that that would be welcome. It’s always advisable to ferret out any of the possibilities, especially in a community that is as economically depressed as Sekiu and Clallam Bay.”
The proposal would raise about $30,000 in its first year.
“If it’s raising $30,000 in revenue, it sure seems like there are other options available,” Chapman said.
Budget emergency
One option is to fund sewer operations with a budget emergency, Chapman said.
The county plans to build a new sewer for Clallam Bay and Sekiu in the next few years.
A relatively modest or delayed rate increase would help build support for the new sewer, Chapman said.
“The size of the increase stuck out to me as well,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said.
“But it also occurs to me that if we are always in a position of backfilling because the rates aren’t appropriate, then we’ll be having the same conversation a few years from now.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
