City Council approved a utility bill surcharge at its Feb. 2, 2010 meeting to
raise money that will bolster the City's Wastewater fund given the financial
uncertainties brought on by Clackamas County's cancellation of Milwaukie's
treatment services contract last summer.
The surcharge will be in place until a new wastewater contract and rate is
negotiated with Clackamas County Service District No. 1 (CCSD1).
Beginning in the February billing cycle, customers will see a surcharge on their
bills that will be calculated by multiplying each customers’ winter average,
stated as WNTR AVG on the bill, by $1. Council’s decision supports a
recommendation made by the City's Budget Committee and Citizens Utility Advisory
Board at a special meeting held on Jan. 28, 2010.
In August of ‘09 the County terminated its contract with the City and imposed a
treatment rate more than double what Milwaukie has been paying for wastewater
treatment service. City Council has refused to pass the new rate along to the
City’s customers, but all the while CCSD1 has continued to bill the City at the
higher rate and the final cost for service is still unknown. The surcharge will
help cover this growing imbalance and protect the City’s wastewater fund and
reserve account.
The surcharge will be in place through 2010, or until the City and CCSD1 agree
upon a new rate. Negotiations will reconvene in the coming weeks.
By mid-February the City will launch a website that will explain the issues
involved with the negotiation and help ratepayers better understand the ongoing
negotiations, their utility bills, and the effect of the temporary surcharge.
