Date: March 1, 2008
Community and Government Affairs
City of Lake Forest Park
Phone: 206-368-5440
News Release
On–Site Wastewater Excise Tax Replaces Sewer Availability Charge
In 2004, the City of Lake Forest Park conducted a sanitary sewer study. The study analyzed the City’s current rate structure to determine the best way to begin setting aside funds for the future replacement of the City’s sewer infrastructure and to develop the best way to complete the City’s sewer infrastructure by installing sanitary sewer mains in several areas of the City where sewer mains were still unavailable.
The City Council created a policy that would encourage homeowners to connect to the City’s new sewer mains rather than utilizing their current on–site wastewater systems.
A monthly on–site wastewater excise tax for the privilege of operating an on–site wastewater system to encourage homeowners to connect to the City’s sewer system. All new connections to the City’s system are also required to pay a connection charge (this is not new) to be used for the future capital replacement of the City’s sewer system.
Those customers who already have sewer mains in their street but utilize an on–site wastewater system have been charged a Sewer Availability Charge. The Sewer Availability Charge has been replaced with the on–site Wastewater System Excise Tax, which is the same amount ($13.14 per month for 2008).
The regulations that were developed require homeowners to get a one–time on–site wastewater license and to have their on-line wastewater systems inspected to ensure that they are in good condition. Since the elected officials were cognizant that the installation of private side sewers and the connection costs may be expensive for homeowners and many of the on–site wastewater systems are still in good shape, the City will allow the homeowners to defer the excise taxes and connection charges until the property actually transfers ownership. Even then, the homeowner is still not required to connect to the City’s sewer system until their current on–site wastewater system fails. Once an on–site wastewater system fails, the homeowner is required to connect to the City’s sewer system.
The City has been working for several years now on the installation of these new sewer mains. Now that these projects are nearing completion, the City is preparing to implement the on–site wastewater system regulations. A letter with the City’s policies and licensing requirements will soon be mailed to the homeowners who currently have sewer available but are instead utilizing an on–site wastewater system.
