EWEB Board Approves Water System Development Charge Monday Night 3:2Last night, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) Commissioners narrowly approved a much-discussed System Development Charge (SDC) that will pay for future water system expansion. The decision came after months of public forums, hearings and meetings on the proposed fee. The SDC resolution includes a provision to reduce the impact of the fee upon qualified low-income housing. Commissioners Anderson, Smith and Curtis voted in favor of the charge. Commissioner Dyer opposed the SDC, saying he thinks the fee puts too much of the expansion burden on the development community. Commissioner Osanka voted against the charge, opposing the commitment to offset the charge assessed for service to low-income development. The SDC will be applied to all new water service connections or meters installed on or after July 1, 1997. The schedule of charges is based on the size of the meter installed. The larger the meter, the higher the cost since a greater demand is placed on the water system. The charge varies from $1,701 for a typical home to about $13,600 for a business using eight times the water used in a typical house. Charges for larger water users would be calculated manually based upon potential water demand. "As the community grows, EWEB will have to spend about $32 million to meet increased demand for water," said Water Division Director Dick Helgeson. "Without this charge, the expansion would have to be funded through a water rate increase to all customers." -30-
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