Bend sewer, water rates to get reconstruction

The community has spoken out about fairness, when it comes to Bend sewer and water utility rates. The city is now stepping up to make a change.

On Wednesday, a board of city councilors, community members, school board representatives, brewers and others met with a group of outside analysts to discuss ways to change the system.

The FCS Group is working with the city.

The group discussed sewer rates first. As of now, most residential rates are $48.36 a month. Single-family, multifamily and some non-residential facilities pay that same fee. Community members are saying that is not fair.

“The basic problem is that small users have been paying too much,” Mayor Jim Clinton said.

During Wednesday’s focus group, the board discussed what its main goals are when reconstructing the rate system — goals like equitable, affordable, and efficient, among others.

No major decisions were made at the meeting, and no major changes will decided upon until this winter.

But here’s a Q&A city officials put out this week for background on the sewer and water) rate issues: http://bendoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=29&recordid=1296