SEQUIM — The Sequim City Council may need to raise sewer and water rates 10 percent to 20 percent next year to help pay for upgrades in those utility systems, it was told this week.
In a report during the council’s Monday morning study session, Peninsula Financial Consulting’s Ashley Emery said that since growth has slowed in Sequim, there haven’t been as many builders paying the big hookup charges.
So ratepayers, Emery said, may have to shoulder the burden of expanding the sewage treatment plant.
Plans have begun for the construction of an $11 million sewer-plant upgrade.
But now the council faces the dilemma of funding the project with steeper fees for developers, higher monthly rates for residents, or both.
Emery predicted early last year that Sequim’s growth would stay vigorous enough — with hundreds of builders paying sewer and water hookup fees — to pay for much of the upgrade.
