| What is the sewage
treatment capacity charge? The purpose of the charge is to pay for building
sewage treatment capacity to serve newly connected customers. The sewage treatment
capacity charge ensures that all customers pay for their share of the cost of capital
improvements to provide them with sewage treatment service |
| Who is required to
pay this charge? Customers connected to sewers in King County's service area on
or after February 1, 1990, are subject to the capacity charge. King County provides
sewage treatment and disposal service to most of cities and sewer districts in King county
and a portion of Snohomish county. |
| How is the billing
handled? King county sends capacity charge bills to customers about six months
after connection to sewers. King County then bills customers directly every six
months for 15 years. At any time during this period, customers can pay the remaining
balance at a discount of 8 percent per year. Beginning Jan
1, 2005, this discount is reduced to 5.5%. |
|
| How
much is the charge? King County requires single family residential customers to
pay $18.00 a month for 15 years. Effective 1/1/05 thru
12/31/06 rate will be $34.05 per month. Multifamily housing is
converted to "residential customer equivalents, " or RCE's using the following
scale: 2-4 units per building -0.8 RCE's per unit; 5 or more units per building = .64 RCEs
per unit.King County. |
| If I
sell my home or property, does the new owner assume the charge? Yes. The
subsequent owners will be responsible for paying the capacity charge through the end of
the 15 year period. |
|
| Should I prepay all
future charges? If you prepay all future charges, it costs less over the 15-year
period because you receive an 8 percent per year discount. However, if you are planning to
sell your home or property in a few years, you may not want to prepay future charges since
the remaining payments will be passed along to the next owner. |
| Will I continue to
get a bill for sewer service? Yes, All customers will still receive a sewer
service bill separate from the capacity charge bill. |
| What should I do If
I am billed incorrectly? If you believe your bills incorrect, or if you were not
in possession of the property for any portion of the six-month period covered by the
billing, Call King County's accounting office at 9206) 684-2027. If you submit
documentation that establishes change of ownership of the property and the previous
owner's name and address, King County will adjust your billing and bill the previous owner
for their share of the six-month period. |
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