Wastewater rates are going up for Ketchikan residents. The Ketchikan city council approved a five percent increase to the city’s sewer rates at their regular meeting on June 20.
The increase is intended to help efforts to rehab and replace sections of sewer lines that run beneath Water Street. This project was written into the city’s budget for this year. It’s expected to cost about $5 million and is a bit of a race against time.
The Alaska Department of Transportation is planning to resurface Water Street in 2026. So City Manager Delilah Walsh said in a memo to the council that the goal is to upgrade those sewer pipes before the DOT lays fresh asphalt on top of them.
To expedite the process, the city applied for a $4 million loan with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation and in order to meet the requirements for that loan, Walsh said the state is requiring the city to increase their rates.
Councilmember Jai Mahtani said he understood the reason for the increase but he said he still couldn’t support it.
“We need to, during budget sessions, stop creating positions, stop buying equipment that’s not necessary, find other ways to support these rates, but not on the backs of our citizens,” said Mahtani.
It’s a sentiment that councilmember Mark Flora agreed with, but he also said the council has to do something.
“I don’t want to burden the citizens any more than need be, but our infrastructure has fallen apart,” said Flora. “We see it most with KPU electric and, ladies and gentlemen, that’s a preview. Give water and wastewater about another four or five years, and there they are.”
Flora suggested the city turn to their biggest economic driver – tourism. Taxing Ketchikan citizens is unsustainable, he said, the city needs to find more revenue from the visitor industry.
Flora still voted in favor of the motion though. The vote to increase the city’s wastewater rates passed 5-2. Council members Mahtani and Gass were the opposition votes.
The increased rates will go into effect on August 1st.
