* From Council member Joe DePinto on water rates:

[used with permission]

“In the picture below is the current water rate structure and the proposed water rate schedule here in Yelm. You will notice a slight increase in the base rate (most people have residential 5/8) from $37.47 to $37.84, the current 4 tier system for consumption rates reduced to 2 tiers (so rates will no longer escalate to some of the highest rates in WA state), and the first 400cf of water included in the base rate (so if you want to live frugally your bill for water will only be the base rate of $37.84). The current average water bill (not including stormwater or sewer) for someone using 800cf of water is $71.63 and if this proposal is adopted in the budget, starting in January 2021 it will be $55.08. On the high usage side, someone currently using 4500 cf of water is paying $521.59 and if passed will pay $279.05. The senior water rate resident is on average spending $35.82 and in January 2021 if passed it will go down to $18.93.

“I was very pleased and thankful that the Mayor included this Public Works proposal in his budget which will likely pass. This is going to help lower the water rates in Yelm for the first time ever. I know prices are still going to be higher when compared to someone living outside of the city limits or even a lot of other cities, but this is a good start in my opinion.

“Thanks for reading and feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to answer them.” Read more