PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Kara Raftery (Zupke) | Communications & HR Manager
City of Leavenworth
509.548.5275 ext. 136 | media@col.dev.3sherpas.com
LEAVENWORTH, WA – December 5, 2025 – The City of Leavenworth is addressing its aging utility infrastructure by implementing necessary utility rate adjustments, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. These rate adjustments are a shared investment required to secure the continuous delivery of reliable, quality water, storm, and sewer services for utility users.
Following a comprehensive study in 2024, next year’s utility rate changes were approved in November 2025, and a phased plan was designed to ensure long-term stability and prevent costly emergency failures. The decision to adjust rates was driven by the City’s accountability to the community and a commitment to moving from a crisis-based reaction to a cost-effective, planned approach.
The city’s utility system—the underground pipes and treatment facilities—is like a car that is decades old. It has reached the point where it needs major and regular maintenance, not just minor fixes. Without this built-in rate investment plan, the city will likely face more frequent breakdowns that can cost three to five times more than planned, intentional work. Emergency repairs cause major disruptions and leave neighborhoods and our community without essential services.
Utility services operate as Enterprise Funds. This means that the services must be self-sufficient; the revenue generated by rates is the primary funding source for operations and capital projects. The City is limited and may not use other funds, like lodging tax, to cover specific utility costs.
In an effort to create coordinated savings, City staff are working to synchronize major utility upgrades with planned roadway projects. This coordination saves taxpayer money and minimizes disruption by preventing us from having to tear up a brand-new street later to fix an old pipe underneath.
Over time, the rate adjustment is significant, with water bills projected to nearly double over four years. This long-term investment in our utility infrastructure will directly fund essential improvements on critical and future utility upgrades, ensuring continuous, quality water delivery, which will reduce service outages and help the City meet safety and environmental standards. The new rate structure also promotes sustainability by encouraging responsible water use.
The City is committed to ensuring the rates remain equitable and affordable by offering assistance programs such as Low-Income Support, Senior Discounts, and Disabled Discounts.
Residents are encouraged to attend an open house at City Hall in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. City staff will be available for questions. For complete details on rate schedules or to learn more about identified capital projects, please visit col.dev.3sherpas.com/utility-rates/.
For questions or more information, please contact Kara Raftery (Zupke) at media@col.dev.3sherpas.com.
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