Looking at the prospect of upgrading the nearly 80 year-old utility lines under old U.S. 50 through Washington, and rising interest rates on bonds, the Washington City Council heard the introduction of ordinances raising sewer, water, and electric bills an average of 10 percent. Mayor Joe Wellman said that the new rates are necessary to keep the utilities on firm financial footing. About 3% of the increase will be used to fund utility upgrades under Old US 50 while the rest he says is needed to maintain and improve the overall systems..
John Siever, with financial consultantsUmbaugh and Associates, told the Council that it had been almost 10 years since electric rates were adjusted, six years for water rates, and five years for sewer rates. If the rate increases are approved at the next Council meeting, they will be phased in over the first six months of 2019.