Bothell was scheduled to consider 2025-26 water, sewer, and stormwater rate increases

What the records say

In materials published ahead of the Nov. 19, 2024, City Council meeting, the agenda said Bothell was scheduled to consider adopting utility rates for 2025 and 2026. The item (AB #24-189) bundled several ordinances to be handled as separate votes: new water utility rates and billing, new sanitary sewer utility rates and billing, and new storm and surface water utility rates ¹. The recommended action was five separate motions to adopt those ordinances ¹. A companion staff briefing listed the proposed increases: 6.25% for water, 4.25% for sanitary sewer, and 5.75% for storm and surface water, each for 2025 and 2026 ¹. The stormwater ordinance exhibit shows the residential parcel charge rising from $224.60 per parcel per year in 2024 to $237.51 effective January 1, 2025, and $251.17 effective January 1, 2026 ¹. Two more ordinances were attached to the same item: one to reallocate the water distribution business tax by amending BMC 5.08.020 — removing the additional 5.15% hydrant-maintenance tax and adding the equivalent cost to water customer rates — and one amending BMC Title 18 to clarify utility billing and permitting language ¹. The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.

• The agenda item proposed adopting an ordinance setting 2025 and 2026 water utility rates and billing, with a proposed 6.25% increase ¹.
• A separate ordinance would set 2025-26 sanitary sewer utility rates and billing, with a proposed 4.25% increase ¹.
• Another ordinance would set 2025-2026 storm and surface water utility rates, with a proposed 5.75% increase; the residential parcel charge would go from $224.60 to $237.51 in 2025 and $251.17 in 2026 ¹.
• An additional ordinance would reallocate the water distribution business tax by amending BMC 5.08.020, removing the 5.15% hydrant-maintenance tax and adding the equivalent cost to water customer rates; a further ordinance would amend BMC Title 18 to clarify utility billing and permitting language ¹.
• The recommended action was five separate motions to adopt the ordinances ¹.

Why it matters

Water, sewer, and stormwater rates appear directly on residents' utility bills, so the proposed increases of 6.25% (water), 4.25% (sewer), and 5.75% (stormwater) would affect what households pay each billing cycle in 2025 and 2026 ¹. The tax reallocation would shift the cost of fire hydrant maintenance from a separate utility tax onto water customer rates ¹. The Title 18 ordinance also touches billing rules residents interact with, such as low-income senior and disabled discount language and water leak billing adjustments ¹.

What changed / what's next

• The proposed change would set new 2025 and 2026 water utility rates and billing, with a 6.25% increase ¹.
• It would set new 2025-26 sanitary sewer utility rates and billing, with a 4.25% increase ¹.
• It would set new 2025-2026 storm and surface water utility rates, with a 5.75% increase ¹.
• It would reallocate the water distribution business tax through a change to BMC 5.08.020, moving hydrant-maintenance funding from the general fund to the water utility fund ¹.
• It would amend BMC Title 18 to clarify water, sewer, and stormwater billing and permitting language ¹.
• The meeting was scheduled for Nov. 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Bothell City Hall, when the ordinances were expected to be voted on ¹.
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.
• The staff briefing also noted the final 2025-26 biennial budget and 2025 fee schedule were scheduled for adoption on December 3, 2024 ¹.