Officials say prices must rise to cover the cost of expanding systems, including the multi-million Willamette River project.
Hillsboro’s proposed 2023 and 2024 water rate increases, though not yet formally adopted, have sparked discontent among local businesses and residents.
The proposed increase to single-family, multifamily, and commercial water customers is scheduled to begin on January 1, but is subject to adoption by the Hillsboro City Council.
In the current matrix, housing prices will rise by 8.8% in 2023 and another 8.9% in 2024.
According to the city government, for a “typical residential customer using 6,000 gallons per month,” that’s about $3.73 and $4.11 per month, respectively.
For multi-family housing like multi-family housing, the tax rate will increase by 10.4% in both 2023 and 2024. Tax rates for non-profits and public bodies will increase by 10.4% in 2023 and 10.5% in 2024.
Commercial users will pay an additional fee of 10.6% in 2023 and 10.5% in 2024. Industrial users, fire protection agencies and irrigation districts will see a 10.5% rate increase in both years under the proposed rate.
Officials say the increase is needed to pay for services, maintain existing infrastructure and pay for additional water supplies.
In addition to water from the Upper Tualatin River, Hillsboro’s traditional drinking water source, water will also be supplied from the Willamette River in the future.
The Tualatin Valley Water District is partnering with Hillsboro and Beaverton to develop a new supply intake on the Willamette River near Wilsonville, a new treatment plant at Sherwood and a reservoir at Beaverton.
This billion-dollar project is a massive undertaking, funded by water districts and participating cities. This includes new infrastructure projects that have been in the works for years and still have years left.
It also takes more than 30 miles of pipe to bring clean water to Hillsboro. Not only does the city say this is necessary to support the city’s future growth, but the new water system is also earthquake resistant.
A pipeline has now been built in Wilsonville, connecting it to the water system that runs along Southwest Kinsman Road, Beckman Road, Lydder Road, and 95th Street. That phase of the project began in his May and is expected to end in 2024.
According to the Willamette Water website, the stages of the project are designed to reduce the impact on traffic and complete the work during currently scheduled road maintenance.
Officials say the Willamette River’s supply is needed to keep up with new growth and make the water system more resilient, but the increase in water bills is already out of reach for the public. We are getting negative feedback from
Hillsboro-based Vertigo Brewing sent a complaint on Twitter shortly after the new rate proposals were published on the city’s website.
According to Vertigo Brewing’s official account, “We’ve been battling rising COGs, but @CityofHillsboro wants our (and yours) water bills to hit double digits next year and the year after. “Let me hear your voice that this is unacceptable.”
A virtual and in-person community conversation about water rates will be held on Monday, September 19 at 6:00 pm in Room 113 of the Hillsboro Civic Center at 150 East Main Street.
A public hearing is also scheduled for October 3. Zoom’s details can be found online on his webpage for the city’s proposed water bills.
Residents and impacted businesses can also submit feedback using the Engage Hillsboro platform.
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