Water Rates And Usage Take Center Stage As Hillsboro Gulps Up More

Column: Dirk Knudsen – Editor

The stories of our water, where it comes from, who uses it, and how much we have are everywhere.  But how much do we really know about it?  How much do you know?  One thing is for sure; it is disappearing and being used at an overwhelming rate.

In the next couple of weeks, the focus will be on the cost of our water here in Hillsboro.  Utility rate meetings are boring and rarely attended by anyone.  But that is about to change.  The Herald has been making inquiries for about 2 months now and seeking answers to a specific set of questions.  Answers have been slow to come and measured in response.  But enough information is coming in that we can now share some of it with all of you.  We will be doing that in a series of articles coming in the next month.

The Hillsboro City Council has met with Hillsboro Water Department in recent months and heard of the coming rate increases with a chance to comment.  The City of Hillsboro Utilities Commission sets water rates for Hillsboro Water’s service area.  All of you will be paying more in the next few years..a lot more.  Rate increases have already been slated for the next two years, 2023 & 2024, and more are certain to come.

Let’s start the series off by informing all of you about a hearing coming up next Monday, September 19th, 2022.  The meeting will be online and in-person meeting.  There will be one of those on October 3rd, 2022.  The Herald is expecting some decent attendance as water shut-offs of some of Hillsboro’s most vulnerable citizens have raised the concerns of Western Farm Workers Association .  They have had several of their members cut off from water as rate increases gouged them. They have lobbied city hall and are working regionally to try to raise awareness of the problem. 

Other citizens are beginning to wake up to this issue.

Here are the proposed rate changes that are being discussed and that will be voted on and confirmed at these meetings and hearings.

Powerpoint slide provided by Hillsboro Water Department

That is about a 9 % raise on our current rates.  Over two years that will equate to a 20% increase.  The Herald, based on meetings we have attended and information we have, believes this trend line may continue for years to come.    Before we move on to our next article on who is using our water, we want you to all make sure to be informed and get involved.  There is much you can learn by getting involved and asking questions.  Meetings are hearings like these are really the only way to get answers to questions in a public forum and that is very important.

Here is the information as posted by the City of Hillsboro and how you can attend the virtual or IN PERSON meeting on Monday.  We hope to see you there.

Water Rate Community Conversation

• Date:09/19/2022 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
• Location: Hybrid (Virtual & In-Person)