What will be the cost to ratepayers to update our wastewater systems?

We project that ratepayers will see significant increases on their wastewater charges, likely 10-14% per year for the next eight years. The overall cost of these projects is over $200 million. In 2025 we secured $5 million from the Oregon Legislature to support these projects, which will reduce the cost to ratepayers. We recognize that this will be hard for the community, particularly given other recent increases. Unfortunately, this is the only way to effectively address this challenge in the long term and provide a pathway to lower rate increases once we have made the transition. The City does offer an assistance program for low-income residents who cannot afford their bills.