Finance committee reviews stormwater rate options tied to cyanobacteria plan

The Ocean Shores finance committee on Jan. 22 discussed proposed stormwater service levels designed in part to support a cyanobacteria response plan and long-term waterway maintenance.

Finance staff presented three service tiers — low, moderate and high — that mix monitoring, treatment and outreach. Under the low scenario staff said a typical single-family lot (approximately 8,000 square feet) would see a charge beginning at about $5.40 per month and rising to approximately $7.36 by 2034. Under a moderate package the committee was told the charge could reach roughly $9.91 by 2034. One committee member noted that, expressed on a bimonthly utility bill, the comparison is roughly $18 in some scenarios.

Project manager Becky and freshwater-contracted contractor Terry McNabb (AquaTechEx) will present technical details to the freshwater waterways committee; staff plan a later return to finance with refined options. Finance staff emphasized that elements from different tiers can be mixed to tailor the city’s approach and help control scope and cost. “We can mix and match,” a staff member said when describing how low, moderate and high levels can be combined to fit local priorities.

Committee members discussed whether stormwater charges should carry CPI indexing and whether some stormwater responsibilities should be funded from the general fund. Council liaison Lisa Scott and Council member Sires raised concerns about cross-subsidization of essential services; staff said indexing and long-term cost projections will be part of the next package.

Next steps: freshwater waterways committee will host presentations from AquaTechEx and consultant Herrera; finance will discuss the refined rate options on the council agenda in the near term. The committee did not adopt a rate; further analysis and public discussion are planned.