Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Milwaukie City Council has postponed a vote on raising sewer rates. Ryan Knutson reports.

The city decided to get more input from citizen advisory boards before voting on a temporary surcharge that would increase sewer rates for Milwaukie residents from $11 a month to about $25.

Last summer, the county doubled what it charges the city for sewage treatment to help pay for growth in the county, but the city has refused to pay that amount.

Milwaukie City Council president Greg Chaimov says the surcharge would create a funding safety net, and is not a sign that the city is giving in to the county’s demands.

Greg Chaimov: “It’s not intended at all to be any kind of a signal to the county that the residents of Milwaukie are willing to pay that kind of an amount for wastewater treatment services.”

The vote will now take place on February 2.