Kamas’ water prices are going up for the first time since 2022 and sewer rates for the first time since 2011.
The city council unanimously adopted the new fees May 27. Rates will go up gradually over five years, rather than all at once.
Currently, Kamas households pay $31 per month for 15,000 gallons of water per month. Next year that will jump to $38. After 2026, fees will go up $3 annually until 2031.
Ordinary businesses will be taxed for water the same as residences. Customers that use more, such as laundromats or car washes, will pay double or quadruple. The recreation center, with its pool, will be taxed 20 times the amount of one residence.
On the sewer side, residences pay $24 right now. That will increase to $44 next year and rise $3 annually until 2031. RV dump stations pay quadruple.
Kamas officials say auditors have continually raised concerns that the sewer and water systems lose money. They say they had to raise rates to be fiscally responsible.
The city’s pamphlet published ahead of the May 27 rate increase public hearing says the water system loses more than $206,000 and the sewer more than $163,000.
Without rate increases, both deficits are estimated to grow more than $70,000 next year. Kamas says it will be difficult to secure third-party funding to help afford maintenance with such deficits.
No one attended the public hearing to comment on the new rates. Their effective date is July 1.
The city council is expected to review its overall budget for the previous fiscal year and adopt next year’s budget at a meeting in June.
