Council provided direction on 5-year water rate schedule with 11.8% increases in 2026 and 12.2% in 2027. Council directed expansion of customer assistance program to all income-qualified households, reduction of nonprofit housing discount from 25% to 20%, and implementation of annual monitoring triggers for program costs.
Real Briefings — Legislation Tracker
Bill #2024-547
Water System Plan and Utility Rates
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Summary
Meeting History
May 19, 2025
Budget & Finance Committee
Bellingham's Budget and Finance Committee confronted two sobering realities on May 19th: dramatic utility rate increases of 11-13% annually and a structural budget deficit requiring service cuts in ...
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