Utility Tax Update

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

For the past few months, the City of Des Moines Council has been discussing imposing a 16% utility tax on water and sewer bills, including water bills for Highline customers located within Des Moines. If Des Moines adopts a utility tax, Des Moines would be the first and only city to tax water service within the seven city region served by Highline.  Highline Water District continues to oppose the proposed City utility tax because it is a regressive tax that will cause financial hardship for our ratepayers.  We recently mailed a letter to all Highline ratepayers within the City of Des Moines explaining the City was planning to pass the utility tax ordinance at its December 17th Council meeting.

 

However, we recently learned Des Moines has pulled consideration of its Utility Tax Ordinance from its December 17th Council Meeting agenda.  Des Moines Mayor and Councilmember Dave Kaplan has stated the City will now try to negotiate a franchise agreement with the water and sewer districts, including Highline, providing for the payment of a franchise fee.   If unable to come to agreement with the districts, the City will again consider the adoption of a utility tax at one of its future City Council meetings in early 2016.   While we would prefer to have no utility tax, we believe it is prudent to negotiate a lower fee with the City through a franchise agreement in exchange for mutual benefits for District ratepayers who are also City residents.  This is better than the City implementing its 16% utility tax with nothing positive in return, or the cost of litigating the matter with an uncertain outcome. 

 

Thanks to all the Des Moines ratepayers who have expressed their concerns to the City Council about the adoption and imposition of the City's proposed utility tax.  We will continue to keep you informed about this very important matter.

 

Contact Us

Highline Water District
23828 30th Ave. S.
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: 206-824-0375
Emergency: 206-824-0375
FAX: 206-824-0806
Hours: M-F 7:00-4:00

Contact Page

Ways to Pay
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • Checks
  • Cash