A 2.5% annual sewer rate increase was approved March 2 by the North Bend City Council.

The rate increase will be effective from 2022 to 2025, and will help the city pay for ongoing improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. The rate increase was unanimously approved by the city council.

North Bend’s wastewater treatment plant dates back to the 1950s, and has suffered numerous problems over the years. In 2014 and 2015, the city council approved emergency contracts to address several critical improvements. Work began to upgrade the treatment plant in the spring of 2019, and the first phase of updates is wrapping up. The second phase is currently in design.

The city is expecting to spend nearly $27 million from 2021 through 2025 on capital projects, with the majority coming this year and next.

The 2022 monthly sewer rate for single and multi-family units will be $83.01, an increase from the current 2020 rate of $79.09. The senior and low income rate for 2022 is set at $38.07.