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As part of its ongoing methodological update project, the Water Environment Services (WES) Advisory Board voted earlier this month to advance a 5-tier system development charge (SDC) schedule. The proposed adjustments to SDCs are scaled according to square footage and based on statistically corresponding relationships amongst dwelling size, occupancy, and indoor winter water consumption data. In addition to the proposed 5-tier SDC methodology, the WES Advisory Board is evaluating a 66% SDC increase from $7,850 to $13,019 per equivalent dwelling unit. This follows WES’s 125% increase to the wholesale sewer rate for portions of the district, effective August 1, 2019. The rate hike brought WES’s two rate zones into equilibrium based on a consolidated capital improvement plan. At the most recent advisory committee meeting, HBA emphasized the positive economic impacts of growth and explained how another SDC increase would severely overburden development in cities that just this year experienced a substantial SDC increase. While HBA acknowledges the value of SDCs in providing infrastructure to serve new customers, we encouraged WES to weigh the relative impacts to both the ratepayer and development when considering options to encourage housing production during a regional housing crisis. HBA encourages developers, builders, and affiliate business owners in the WES district to join one of the December policy forums on the WES rules and standards project. The forums will cover current proposed fiscal and technical policy updates and include breakout sessions on regulatory changes and requirements, as well as changes to the development review and approval processes. The proposed fiscal and regularly policies will go before the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners in Spring 2020. To weigh in on the proposed fiscal policies and to learn about HBA’s role on the WES Advisory Committee, contact Roseann Johnson at roseannj@hbapdx.org. Next Article Previous Article