Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
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Budget Ordinance 26-054, amending Chapter 25.20 of the Snohomish County Code Relating to Storm and Surface Water Management Service Charges
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DEPARTMENT: Conservation and Natural Resources
ORIGINATOR: Alison Fernandez
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Kent Patton 9/1/26
PURPOSE: Amending Chapter 25.20 of the Snohomish County Code Relating to Storm and Surface Water Management Service Charges.
BACKGROUND: This ordinance increases the SWM utility rate for 2027 and addresses ongoing inflationary impacts by modifying the annual adjustment of SWM rates to 100% of the June-to-June Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA CPI-W. The SWM utility rate increase is primarily needed to address the increase in the cost of doing business due to high inflation rates in recent years. The increase is also needed to address added expenses associated with new requirements in the County’s NPDES permit, and to allow SWM to continue delivering services and capital projects at current levels. Without this increase, SWM will need to reduce its capital program, such as implementing fish passage barrier removal and culvert replacement projects.
The adjustment brings SWM’s utility rate somewhat closer into parity with other jurisdictions in the region, though the rate will still be among the lowest in the area. The change in the annual cost adjustment from a fixed rate of 2.8% to an adjustable rate, capped at 5% and no lower than 1%, allows SWM rates to more closely keep pace with inflationary factors.
The rate increase is also designed to prevent financial impacts on other County departments that pay surface water utility charges. To help prevent negative impacts to the Department of Public Works, this ordinance removes code language that prohibits county road right of way from eligibility for the NPDES credit, which also recognizes the ongoing NPDES compliance work performed by the Snohomish County Department of Public Works.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
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EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
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TOTAL |
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REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
CURRENT YR |
2ND YR |
1ST 6 YRS |
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415 3095111770, SWM Utility Charges |
$5,020,639.02 |
$5,724,150.15 |
$32,558,315.82 |
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TOTAL |
$5,020,639.02 |
$5,724,150.15 |
$32,558,315.82 |
DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES: Click or tap here to enter text.
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Finance - Nathan Kennedy 9/1/26. AATF: Laura Kisielius