SEQUIM — Sequim residents shouldn’t expect an increase in their utility bills in 2021. But they could see a rate bump the following year.
City council members voted 4-2 Monday to halt water and sewer rate increases in the proposed $33.5 million 2021 budget.
“It’s smart of us not to consider a rate increase certainly because of the COVID situation,” said Deputy Mayor Tom Ferrell.
“You’re reading my mind; in light of COVID and the unknown impact, I agree 100 percent,” Mayor William Armacost added.
Monday’s meeting was the first time the city council publicly discussed the 2021 budget, with more talks scheduled.
Council member Brandon Janisse, however, voted against the idea, saying he wanted more time to consider the proposal.
Also opposing it was council member Dennis Smith.
He said he felt there was unanimous agreement that no one wanted the proposed 4-percent water increase, but added:
“As the rate study shows, at some place we’re going to have to catch up. Some (percentage) is better than nothing. Two percent is fine.”
Earlier in the meeting, city utility rate consultant Gordon Wilson of FCS Group said his model proposes an ongoing 4-percent increase in water rates and 2-percent increase in sewer rates.
Council members have not taken action on the proposed rate study.
In 2019, council members approved a 4-percent increase in water rates and no increase in sewer rates, for an average increase of $1.21 per home each month.
In his 2021 budget message, Sequim City Manager Charlie Bush wrote that the average single-family residential bill has increased an average of 1 percent for the last five years in an effort to minimize impact on residents.
“Smaller rate increases over time help to avoid large jumps in rates that are more challenging for customers to afford in the long run and demonstrate the proactive management of our utility operations,” Bush wrote.
With no increase in 2021, Janisse asked if staff would propose a doubled increase of 8 percent in 2022.
“The recommended increase next year would be higher because we’re going with zero,” Garlington said.
“What that number would be, we would have to crunch the numbers … (but) it’d be higher than the recommendation we had this year.”
Bush wrote that “utility rates not only support operations, they support our master plans, our Capital Improvement Plan and debt service, as well.”
He added that a growing number of sewer customers led to a “strong financial performance for that fund” leading to less of a proposed increase year-to-year.
Bush said if 2021’s proposed utility rate increases were enacted, it would cost the average residential customer about $2.63 more a month.
As part of the utility rate study, city staff look to continue to offer low-income discounts to qualifying residents.
Ferrell reiterated that saying no to an increase in 2021 utilities is the “correct move to take.”
He said, “I know it creates a little bit of a challenge.”
Administrative service director Sue Hagener said she’ll create a draft revision of the fees and charges element of the budget for their next discussion on Oct. 12.
Read more about the City of Sequim 2021 budget at sequimwa.gov.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
