The Bainbridge Island City Council will vote on its first major utility rate hike in over a decade at its June 10 meeting, following a recommendation from the Utility Advisory Council.
From 2011 to 2023, residents on the city’s water and sewer system were being charged far below the local average rates for utilities, with the typical user paying about 35% of the inflation-adjusted monthly bill.
Public Works’ capital fund paid the price, explained department director Chris Wierzbicki, and now, with several large-scale projects on the way, including a new water tank and wastewater treatment plant, current users may have to make up the difference.
But not everyone will see an increase, per the city council’s utility rate study through consultant company FCS.
Residential water consumers with 3/4 inch to 1-inch meters, the relatively standard size for single-family homes, will pay about $3,400 more per year starting in 2026, if council approves the rate hikes. Properties with meters 1.5 inches or more will see their water rates cut, with the largest water meter users (6 inches) paying about $45,000 less per year.
Rates for multi-family housing and commercial spaces follow the same trend: smaller meter users will pay more, larger meter users will pay less. Irrigation water connections will go up across the board.
Councilmember Kirsten Hytopolous flagged the disparity for Wierzbicki and the UAC at the May 27 council meeting.
“I was just wondering what the reasoning was behind why we have increases for smaller capacity lines, but decreases for larger capacity lines — and they’re kind of notable. I’m wondering what the policy issues are for our consideration, because it looks like we’re giving a break to ourselves, or to a big developer,” said Hytopolous.
Wierzbicki responded that Public Works had also posed that same question to the consultant team, but noted that the rationale “is really complicated,” and will be explained at the June 10 meeting.
Low-income water users will also see new prices for water and sewer connections. The ordinance includes expanded discounted rates for lower-income residents, beyond seniors and citizens with disabilities. Those making between $0-$65,000 per year may see between 50-60% reduction on their water rates, depending on income, which would come out to about $739 per year, plus $725 for a sewer connection.
