Survey says: 79% support acquisition of SPU water system in Shoreline
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
- No increase in property tax or forecasted water rates - No increase in property taxes will be required to purchase the system. It will be paid by bonds, which are repaid by the revenue generated from providing the water service. Water rates will also not increase more than SPU’s forecasted water rates for 2020 and beyond. In other words, a Shoreline ratepayer’s water bill will remain equal to or less than what their bills would be if SPU continued to own the utility.
- No more surcharge or Seattle utility tax - Shoreline customers of SPU currently pay a 14% surcharge for living outside of Seattle’s city limits as well as a Seattle utility tax that goes directly into Seattle’s general fund to pay for such things as Seattle parks, police, fire and neighborhoods. Ownership of the water utility will mean that Shoreline ratepayers will no longer pay a utility tax to Seattle and their money would no longer go towards subsidizing lower rates for other SPU customers.
- Money reinvested in Shoreline, not Seattle - Owning the water system means Shoreline can use revenues to reinvest in the system for things that SPU isn’t focused on, like infrastructure improvements to help improve Shoreline’s commercial districts and increase water flow for firefighting purposes throughout the City.
- Local control - Purchasing the SPU water system will give the City and its citizens direct control over water utility service and decisions instead of relying on Seattle’s public utility to look out for our interests. Currently, decisions on rates, charges and infrastructure investments are made by the Seattle City Council and SPU. Shoreline ratepayers have no direct voice in those decisions. If the City operated the utility, Shoreline ratepayers would have a direct say through the Shoreline City Council.
“When residents learn they can have local control over how the system is managed and that their money will be reinvested in Shoreline instead of Seattle, all for the same rates, or even less, as SPU would charge them, they understand why it is a good business decision for our City,” states City Manager Julie Underwood.



































