The Lake Stevens Sewer District will start paying a 3% sewer utility tax in 2025 and 6% in 2026 after the Lake Stevens City Council passed Ordinance 1194 which taxes them for collecting, conveying and/or treating sewerage within the city.

According to the city council, the money collected will be used for street and sewer maintenance, construction, reconstruction and expansions.

Aaron Halverson, Public Works Director, stated in the city council staff report that the tax was necessary to cover the rising costs of maintaining streets with manhole covers, extending sewer services to unserved areas and related expenses.

Even though the tax is on the sewer district, they are passing the cost to their customers.

"The City of Lake Stevens will be implementing a 3% utility tax on all sewer bills. The increase will be reflected in your bill starting in March," the sewer district wrote in a Facebook post.

This year a single-family residence is paying $99 monthly for sewer service.

The last residential increase was in 2022 when monthly rates were raised from $86 to $99.

"The city's goal is to ensure our roads remain safe and our city continues to grow responsibly, and this is the next step to achieve that goal," the City of Lake Stevens wrote in a Facebook post.

The city estimates it could bring over $684,000 in new revenue in 2025 and over $1,368,000 in 2026.

The City of Lake Stevens was one of a few cities in Snohomish County that did not have a sewer utility tax before this vote.

The ordinance is scheduled to take effect on March 10, 2025.