Langley residents are facing utility rate increases on top of already big bills.

During a meeting this week, the city council discussed proposed hikes of 5% for water, 4% for sewer and 3% for stormwater.

Though the increases won’t be voted on until the next meeting, the council and members of the public had plenty to say on the matter.

A 5% increase in the water rate has been proposed to keep pace with inflation, to accommodate the repayment of a loan and to address growth in water conservation. This means that residents will pay $3.19 more per month, or $47.75 annually, in base fees.

Ratepayers are also facing a proposed 4% increase in the sewer rate, which means they would pay $2.59 more per month, or $31.03 annually. The reason behind this is cited as inflation.

Lastly, a 3% hike in the stormwater rate has been suggested to combat inflation, which amounts to an additional $1.07 per month, or $12.78 per year.

Max Hepp-Buchanan, a Langley resident of the past year and a half, said utility bills are difficult to afford for his young family. Four out of five of his household’s most recent bi-monthly bills have been over $500, despite very little change in water consumption. He said he calls city hall often about the issue but doesn’t understand the explanation most of the time.

“I can’t think of another agency or entity that I give a lump sum every two months that’s so high where I just really don’t know why it’s so high or where are my dollars are going,” he said.

Others who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting also echoed this concern, with bills totaling over $500 every two months.

Public Works Director Randi Perry explained that costs have increased for construction on top of inflation. A conflict on Edgecliff Drive regarding stormwater outfall, for example, came in at roughly $1,200 more per foot than any of the other projects that are part of the Langley Infrastructure Project.

“In order to actually start doing projects, the rates need to increase or we need additional reserve funding to come in from our participation fees,” Perry said. “Those are the two revenue sources that contribute to the utilities.”

Perry said there are many variables that take place throughout the span of a year that can impact rates and how they change, such as more utility connections or the amount of interest earned on money in the capital reserve fund.

“We’re in a healthy place to start from, and we need to maintain that sustainability moving forward,” she said.

When asked by Councilmember Rhonda Salerno how to make things more affordable for ratepayers who are struggling with their bills, Perry responded that she outlined three policy revisions that staff is going to work on updating, one of which is a policy that allows for a one-time leak adjustment for people who have catastrophic plumbing failures.

“As homes age, the plumbing responsibility, just like we’re replacing our pipes, people’s private pipes are going to need attention too,” she said.

Perry also suggested looking at the city’s senior and low income water discount programs, which currently serve 30 participants.

“I think that there’s a lot of room to create more clarity around those programs,” she said.

Councilmember Gail Fleming asked if the discount for seniors and low income households could also be applied to sewer rates. Perry responded that in the sewer comprehensive plan update, funding is outlined for a rate study and she anticipates that the discount would be added for the sewer rate.

Perry acknowledged that increasing utility rates is not a popular choice. She said there was a long period of time where either no or inadequate increases took place. Meanwhile, operations costs continue to rise and projects continue to be deferred. Some of the projects in the Langley Infrastructure Project were identified in the 2007 sewer comprehensive plan, and some of the water projects were identified in the 1993 comprehensive plan.

The Langley Infrastructure Project is now in the final design phase. The bid package is expected to go out next week. Once the bid goes out to the public, the city anticipates awarding that bid in January with construction to begin in the first quarter of 2025.