passed ordinance

Revise sewer and stormwater rates, charges and fees in accordance with the FY 2024-25 Budget

infrastructure utilities
budget finance
budget appropriation

Department: Environmental Services
Introduced by: Former Commissioner Mingus Mapps
Status: Passed

Impact statement

Purpose & background

This annual ordinance establishes rates, charges and fees to generate sufficient revenue for projected expenditures in FY 2024-2025. Under these proposed rates, the typical single-family residential bill is expected to increase by $4.44 per month. Increases to each individual customer and other customer classes may vary based on actual usage and circumstances. The proposed rate ordinance will enable the Bureau to continue collecting and treating wastewater from residences and businesses; managing stormwater to prevent erosion, flooding and water quality problems; operating the combined sewer overflow (CSO) system to prevent sewage overflows into the Willamette River and Columbia Slough; and repairing and replacing inadequate public sewer lines that cause sewage overflows and basement backups.

Financial impacts

This rate ordinance is expected to generate approximately $452 million in operating revenue to support the FY 2024-2025 Requested budget for the Bureau of Environmental Services. Approximately $408 million of this estimate is from billed retail revenues for sanitary and stormwater services. The rate ordinance does not create costs or expenses to the City. This legislation does not specifically create or eliminate positions in future years. Future position decisions will be made by the Council within the annual budget process.

Community impacts

The Portland Utility Board (PUB) began meeting on September 1, 2015 and has held public meetings at least monthly thereafter with a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the PUB’s responsibilities is acting as the bureau’s Budget Advisory Committee by reviewing the bureau’s operating and capital programs and budgets, the FY 2024-2025 Requested Budget and the financial impact to ratepayers of the Requested Budget. Should this rate ordinance pass, the typical residential monthly bill for sewer and stormwater will increase by $4.44 or 5.15%.

▸ Full text (the legislation as adopted)

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: The Bureau of Environmental Service's (BES) Requested Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 reflects increased costs to pay operating and maintenance costs, capital costs and debt service of the City's sanitary sewer and stormwater drainage system. Sewer and stormwater rates, charges, and fees are required to be adjusted beginning July 1, 2024 to accommodate increased needs. In accordance with policies adopted by City Council, the proposed adjustments to sewer and stormwater rates, charges and fees are based upon cost-of-service principles, ensuring equity by charging ratepayers according to the amount of sewer and stormwater service they use. The proposed sewer and stormwater rates, charges and fees are consolidated into a comprehensive schedule as set forth in Exhibit A of this Ordinance. The consolidated schedule does not preclude the establishment and/or continuation of charges and fees by resolution, ordinance, Code provision or administrative rule not otherwise specified in this Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Council adopts sewer and stormwater rates, charges and fees as set forth in the attached Exhibit A. This Ordinance is binding city policy.

Tally

5 yea 0 nay