Bothell leaders scheduled to weigh 2025-2026 water, sewer, and storm rate ordinances

What the records say

Materials for the Nov. 26, 2024, special meeting — a continuation of the Nov. 19 regular meeting adjourned for weather — show agenda item 8e with five proposed ordinances covering Bothell utility bills for 2025 and 2026 ¹. Three would set rates and billing rules for water, sanitary sewer, and storm/surface water service across both years ¹. A fourth would reallocate the water distribution business tax: the ordinance text would cut the water distribution tax from 11.15% to 6% of gross income effective Jan. 1, 2025, moving the 5.15% hydrant-maintenance component into water customer rates ¹. A fifth would make housekeeping updates to utility billing and permitting language in Title 18 of the Bothell Municipal Code ¹. The recommended action was five separate motions, one to adopt each ordinance ¹. The record is an agenda and does not establish the meeting's outcome ¹.

• Agenda item 8e (AB #24-189) listed five ordinances: 2025-2026 rates and billing for water, sanitary sewer, and storm/surface water service, a water distribution business tax reallocation, and Title 18 housekeeping updates ¹.
• The storm/surface water ordinance sets the residential parcel charge at $237.51 per year effective Jan. 1, 2025, and $251.17 effective Jan. 1, 2026, up from $224.60 in 2024, with nonresidential class rates rising on the same schedule ¹.
• The tax ordinance would reduce the water distribution business tax from 11.15% to 6% of gross income effective Jan. 1, 2025, shifting the 5.15% hydrant-maintenance component into water customer rates ¹.
• The recommended action was five separate motions, one to adopt each ordinance; the agenda record does not establish the meeting's outcome ¹.

Why it matters

These ordinances would directly shape what Bothell households and businesses pay for water, sewer, and stormwater service in 2025 and 2026 ¹. The storm/surface water ordinance states specific amounts: the residential parcel charge would rise from $224.60 per parcel per year in 2024 to $237.51 effective Jan. 1, 2025, and $251.17 effective Jan. 1, 2026, with proportional increases across nonresidential classes ¹. The tax reallocation means hydrant maintenance costs previously carried by an 11.15% water utility tax would instead be recovered through water customer rates starting in 2025 ¹. The water and sewer rate amounts are in ordinance attachments not reproduced in the supplied excerpt, so the size of those bill changes cannot be stated from the materials reviewed ¹.

What changed / what's next

• Proposed 2025-2026 water, sanitary sewer, and storm/surface water utility rates and billing rules ¹
• Proposed reallocation of the water distribution business tax from 11.15% to 6%, with hydrant maintenance costs moved into water rates effective Jan. 1, 2025 ¹
• Proposed housekeeping updates to utility billing and permitting language in BMC Title 18 ¹
• Water and sanitary sewer rate amounts appear in ordinance attachments not reproduced in the supplied packet excerpt; the storm rates are stated in the ordinance text ¹.
• The available records do not establish whether the council adopted the ordinances; the meeting was a continuation of the Nov. 19 session ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.