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2010 budget to increase sewer bills by $1.50

South Sound: LOTT Alliance approves rate hike to help pay for operating costs, capital improvements

JOHN DODGE; The Olympian | • Published November 17, 2009

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OLYMPIA - The 2010 budget slated for approval by the LOTT Alliance board of directors Wednesday includes an increase in monthly sewer bills of $1.50.

This marks the third year in a series of five annual rate increases, and pushes the monthly charge next year to $30 for the Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County sewer partnership charged with wastewater treatment, disposal and reuse in South Sound.

Also in 2010, the sewer hookup fee will increase to a total of $4,091, which is $214 more than in 2009.

The rate increases are designed to help raise enough revenue to pay for operating costs, which will be $16.1 million next year, and capital improvement projects, pegged at $29.1 million in 2010.

The operating budget represents a 4 percent increase over 2009 due to salary increases, increased utility costs, equipment replacement in the laboratory and other items.

Agency employment next year will be the same next year as this year – 65.5 full-time employees. The combined payroll of slightly more than $5 million is up 5.4 percent from this year and represents the single-largest item in the operating budget.

The big ticket items in the capital projects budget include:

 • The Administration and Education Center and Lab scheduled to open in the late spring of 2010: $8.5 million.

 • Construction of a reclaimed water pipeline along Deschutes Parkway to Tumwater: $2.37 million.

 • Replacement of the heating and pumping systems for the four sludge digesters at the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant: $2.18 million.

 • Purchase of land from the Port of Olympia: $1.98 million.

 • Water conservation project to reduce flows to the treatment plants: $1.85 million.

An Oct. 28 public hearing on the budget and capital improvement plant drew no comments from the public.