Sewer and stormwater bills went up for households in Bethany, Cedar Mill, Oak Hills, and West Haven-Sylvan on July 1, after Clean Water Services adopted a $675.3 million budget and new rate schedule for the fiscal year.

The increase: 6.4 percent, or $4.28 more per month for the average residential customer.

That's the combined hit for communities in unincorporated Washington County, where CWS handles both regional and local sewer and stormwater services and bills customers directly.

Nearly half of that monthly bump, $1.89, stems from a 21 percent jump in local sewer rates.

A recently updated cost of service study found local rates had fallen behind the actual cost of maintaining neighborhood pipes, responding to service calls, and managing stormwater, according to CWS.

How the vote happened

The CWS Board of Directors voted unanimously on June 9 to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and rates.

The budget totals $675.3 million excluding interfund transfers, down from $752.2 million in the prior year.

"I feel very confident that we are making the right decisions here, and that a very thorough review has been completed," Board Director Jason Snider said during the June 9 public hearing.

Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Leader said the agency worked to build a fiscally responsible budget, citing two cost-saving measures: no new full-time staff positions and a materials and services line that came in $1.4 million below what was initially requested.

The budget's capital improvement spending dropped 16.2 percent to $123.4 million, while debt service fell 12.3 percent to $17.2 million, according to the CWS Budget at a Glance document.

Operating costs rose 4.7 percent to $146.5 million. The June 9 meeting was also the first for new General Manager Rahim Harji, who started May 28.

Why Bethany-area bills differ from Beaverton or Tigard

Residents in seven partner cities — Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Sherwood, Tigard, and Tualatin — receive only regional service from CWS and saw a smaller increase of 4 percent, or less than $2 per month.

Those cities set their own local sewer rates separately.

Residents who want to see their specific rate can visit the CWS Rates FAQs page at cleanwaterservices.org/community-home/stormwater/rates-faqs. The full rates and charges document, Resolution and Order 26-13, is posted at cleanwaterservices.org.

CWS Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at 155 N. First Ave., Hillsboro.

Residents can sign up to testify by emailing [email protected] or calling 503-615-6241.