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Budget approved, fiber grant sought

Tuesday - November 9, 2021 12:00pm

Okanogan County PUD commissioners approved the 2022 budget Oct. 25. Highlights include:

  • $60.6 million revenue
  • $51.1 million expenditures
  • $4.2 million debt service
  • $20.9 million capital outlay

The PUD also anticipates a 3.75% average rate increase effective April 1, 2022, but the exact details of the increase have not yet been determined. Each customer type will be adjusted based on the costs to provide those services. The board and staff will discuss the rates in the coming months.

Capital outlay is mostly funded by a $40 million bond issued last year. Major projects include the continued work on the Okanogan-Brewster transmission rebuild, Tonasket substation replacement, substation power transformer upgrades and more.

Non-union wages were increased at the mid-point by 3.8%, normally adjusted to Consumer Price Index (CPI) totals, which this year was abnormally high near 6%. Commissioners discussed some concern about keeping up with competitive wages at high inflation rates.

Budget documents are available on the PUD website, www.okanoganpud.org.

In other business in October, the board:

  • Considered a broadband grant application through the Washington State Broadband Office for about $9.6 million to serve Twisp, Pateros, Crumbacher and Riverside. The areas were identified through partnerships with area broadband action teams. The grant would require a 10% match.
  • Discussed possible slight changes to district boundaries, a requirement following the 2020 Census. Only some slight adjustments were likely in the Omak/Okanogan area. A public hearing will be held Nov. 22 to discuss the proposed plan, which can be viewed on the PUD website.
  • Decided to no longer record every board meeting, since those recordings must be retained forever and the PUD would need to purchase expensive equipment to continue to record properly. Instead, minutes will still be made available and staff can work with the public with any questions.
  • Heard that about 57 total accounts are 30 days or more past-due, and that many are still working on getting assistance to pay those bills or are setting up long-term payment arrangements. The 60-day and more past-due amount is down to $15,000, with only 8 accounts disconnected due to non-payment and non-contact with the PUD.