Pasco Public Works to seek low-interest loan to buy land for new Butterfield water plant

Pasco Public Works is preparing to seek city permission to apply for a low-interest loan from the Washington State Public Works Board to purchase land for a replacement for the Butterfield water treatment plant, the city said in a July 20 meeting preview.

Alyssa Warner, communications coordinator, said the Public Works department will need council authorization to file the loan application. Warner noted the interest rate on the loan would be "less than 1%."

Why it matters: replacing a water treatment plant is a major capital project with long-term operational and fiscal implications. Securing low-cost financing can lower borrowing costs over the life of a project, but the city will still need to identify a site, complete design and obtain construction funding before the plant can be built.

What the preview did not specify: the parcel size, purchase price, total project cost, construction schedule, or whether other funding sources (grants, bonds or ratepayer contributions) would be used. Those details are expected in the staff report accompanying the council request.

Next steps: the council will be asked to authorize the loan application; approval of project funding, land purchase and construction would come in later council actions if the loan application is successful.