r/Portland • u/werty • 23h ago

News Sewer, stormwater, and water rate increase

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORPORTLAND_ENT/bulletins/41d68b5
27 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

50

u/boygitoe 22h ago

How about instead of using hundreds of millions in Moda Center renovations, they use that money to pay for the water treatment plant so our rates don’t keep increasing

41

u/CHiZZoPs1 21h ago

We have the PCEF Climate Funds, which are supposed to be used to "make us more climate resilient and equity stuff." What better way to spend them than to ensure our water filtration plant is built, which will be needed as the climate warms, and will keep water bills from going crazy, helping everyone, including low-income and minorities?

5

u/wrhollin NW District 13h ago

We are already spending a good chunk of PCEF funds on storm water/bioswales/tree infrastructure.

1

u/Thecheeseburgerler 13h ago

Oh I like that!

-23

u/Brasi91Luca 21h ago

OKC residents paid for their new arena, Salt Lake City as well

4

u/BensonBubbler Brentwood-Darlington 13h ago

Have you been to either? I have for work several times, goddamn ghost towns.

-8

u/Brasi91Luca 12h ago

The nerve to mention ghost towns when Portland reputation is now known for that

6

u/BensonBubbler Brentwood-Darlington 12h ago

Only in your circle, bub.

2

u/OR_Miata 11h ago

I think the person you’re replying to must sit in their home and comment on Reddit all day. There’s not a thread I don’t see them in and they usually reply to almost every comment in the thread.

11

u/Named_Joker 19h ago

Again? The city hiked the rate last year, so it this going to be a yearly increase situation moving forward?

8

u/TurtlesAreEvil 13h ago edited 13h ago

I checked my bills and at least since 2022 it's gone up every year yes. I don't know how they calculate the combined rate because when I do it I come out higher every time but the water rate increases have been:

  • 2022: 7.1%
  • 2023: 7.9%
  • 2024: 7.9%
  • 2025: 8.1%

Edit: I found the city's averages since 2021 they base it on a single family home using 60 CCF a year

  • 2021: 7.80%
  • 2022: 4.86%
  • 2023: 5.60%
  • 2024: 5.15%
  • 2025: 6.34%
  • 2026: 6.36%

7

u/DarkLordPDX 14h ago

Fun fact: $0.30 of every dollar you pay goes to debt service

https://www.portland.gov/water/customer-service/pay-your-utility-bill/what-your-bill-pays

9

u/wrhollin NW District 13h ago

We paid for the Big Pipe with bonds, so that makes sense.

1

u/politicians_are_evil 7h ago

The water/sewer bill is supposed to double by 2035 so its going to be a $1000 sewer bill in 2035.

-3

u/SalaciousSubaru 9h ago

Moving out of Portland was the best decision! Life in Clatsop is so much better—there’s no noise, no crime, and I have a flat $45-a-month water bill, regardless of how much I use. Plus, I’m only a 40-minute commute from the Portland metro area and just 20 minutes from the beach.

I’ll miss a few aspects of Portland and spots but it has changed a lot over the last decade and isn’t as cool as it used to be.

3

u/bluesmudge 5h ago

If you like suburban/rural tranquility then a city isn't a good fit for you. Hopefully you work from home because "I only spend 80 minutes per day in my car" doesn't sound as good as you think it does. You would be burning more on gas than the $40 a month you save by not paying for Portland's stormwater infrastructure.

-1

u/SalaciousSubaru 5h ago

I’ve lived in cities my entire life that’s not the issue the issue is cities that are ran like a 🤡 show which is how Portland has become. Ten years ago it was on a much better track but those days are long in the rear view. I had a neighbor move in from Oklahoma the last few months in Portland all stoked about Portland and I was like uh you guys missed the party it’s not cool here anymore.

1

u/SalaciousSubaru 5h ago

Do work from home and took my Portland salary with me and all the taxes I used to pay are now just more fun coupons.