King County Executive Dow Constantine is calling for stable monthly sewer rates for 2012 under a proposal sent to the Metropolitan King County Council last week.
 
“In these difficult economic times, it makes sense to keep the rate flat. This proposal will allow us to maintain critical infrastructure, support economic growth and promote environmental health without undue burden to ratepayers,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine in a press release.
 
Customers served by King County’s clean-water utility will continue to pay the current rate of $36.10 per residential customer equivalent (RCE). The rate covers the cost to collect wastewater from 34 local sewer utilities and treat it at one of King County’s regional treatment plants in Seattle or Renton, and beginning this summer at the Brightwater plant north of Woodinville.  
 
Under the long-standing principle that “growth pays for growth,” the capacity charge for new sewer hookups is proposed to increase by 3 percent as planned, from $50.45 per month in 2011 to $51.95 per month in 2012. The capacity charge on new customers provides funding for the system upgrades and expansions that are required to accommodate growth.
 
“I am pleased that this proposal will allow us to responsibly operate the regional water treatment system that serves 1.5 million people every day,” said Constantine.  “We’ve also made significant capital investments to upgrade facilities and add new capacity. This is a responsible way to anticipate growth as we emerge from the recession.”
 
The proposed sewer rate would ensure the continued ability of the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) to safeguard public and environmental health, meet regulatory requirements, and protect the strong credit ratings that help keep down the cost of planned borrowing needed to fund capital improvements. 
 
The Executive’s rate proposal directs WTD to commit to future operating efficiencies of more than $4.7 million between 2012 and 2014 to further manage rates, following several years of heavy borrowing to fund the construction of the nearly completed Brightwater project.

For more information, visit the Department of Natural Resources and Parks website at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/