SEQUIM — The City Council unanimously agreed to reduce water and sewer connection fees by 50 percent during a meeting Monday.
Under the newly adopted rate structure, it will cost $2,700 to connect to city water and sewer. Previously, residents had to pay $5,400 to connect.
Mayor Walt Schubert, who was part of the utility rate committee for the last year with Councilman Bill Huizinga and City Manager Bill Elliott, said the new rates will spur economic development as well as open more avenues to provide additional low cost housing.
Schubert, without being specific, said the charges for low-cost housing could be reduced even more in the future.
Although reducing the fees for new hookups was a major achievement that took nearly seven years from start to finish, Schubert acknowledged that it only brings Sequim into alignment with other cities.
“This is a great step to develop economic development in Sequim,”‘ Schubert said.
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