What is Portland deciding about revise sewer and stormwater rates for FY 2025-26?

This annual ordinance establishes rates to generate sufficient revenue for projected expenditures in FY 2025-2026. Under these proposed rates, the typical single-family residential bill is expected to increase by $4.40 per month. Increases to each individual customer and other customer classes may vary based on actual usage and circumstances. The proposed rate ordinance will enable the Bureau to continue collecting and treating wastewater from residences and businesses; managing stormwater to prevent erosion, flooding and water quality problems; operating the combined sewer overflow (CSO) system to prevent sewage overflows into the Willamette River and Columbia Slough; and repairing and replacing inadequate public sewer lines that cause sewage overflows and basement backups.

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

This proposal concerns transportation & public works and requires action through Portland’s public legislative process.

The Portland Utility Board (PUB) began meeting on September 1, 2015 and has held public meetings at least monthly thereafter with a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the PUB’s responsibilities is acting as the bureau’s Budget Advisory Committee by reviewing the bureau’s operating and capital programs and budgets, the FY 2025-2026 Requested Budget and the financial impact to ratepayers of the Requested Budget. Should this rate ordinance pass, the typical residential monthly bill for sewer and stormwater will increase by $4.40 or 4.88%.