Summary

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski issued a statement in opposition to the council's vote to raise wholesale sewer rates in 2021.

Story

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski issued the following statement Tuesday after the Council voted 6-3 to approve a 4.5% sewer rate increase that would take effect in 2021:

“King County has an obligation to carefully balance its responsibility to manage our regional wastewater system and to guide our region through this unprecedented health and economic crisis. I firmly believe that now is not the time to add to the economic burden so many families and businesses are facing. For that reason, I proposed a one-year delay of the Executive-proposed 4.5% sewer rate increase. I believe the division could find $19 million in savings in a $500 million annual budget; in fact, I identified the savings in non-mandatory programming for them. Sadly, the majority of the Council voted to raise rates and keep spending unchanged, rather than wait one year.

“I believe we must first exhaust all options to reduce costs before we raise them on struggling ratepayers. It’s unfortunate that King County will add to hardships that folks will be facing in the year ahead as we try to recover from this crisis and get the economy restarted.” 

The Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee, several cities and numerous elected officials recommended that King County authorize a zero percent rate increase for 2021. The Council rejected the request from these partners, who have previously supported regular rate increases.