Ordinance No. 2025-31 Regarding Low-Income Utility Rate Discounts (Approved 120925)Page 1 2
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ORDINANCE NO. 2025-31
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Adopting Revisions to BIMC 13.16 concerning low-income utility rate reductions relating
to cooperative or condominium associations, effective January 1, 2026.
WHEREAS, BIMC 13.16 establishes a low-income senior citizen and low-income disabled citizen reductions in water, sewer and storm and surface water management service
charges; and
WHEREAS, as part of the development of the 2024-25 Utility Rate Study, city staff
evaluated the impacts of rate increases on low-income utility customers as part of an equity tool-
kit analysis and customer survey, and determined that a more equitable approach to the rate reduction program was warranted; and
WHEREAS, Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-12, accepting the findings of the
2024-25 Utility Rate Study, including recommended increases to water, sewer and storm and
surface water fees and rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and the concurrent expansion of the
low-income rate reduction program to include three thresholds of potential reductions that would apply to all customers with qualifying incomes; and
WHEREAS, Council adopted Ordinance No. 2025-16, adopting revisions to the Utility
Rate program that expanded the Utility Rate Reduction Program to all Low-Income Customers
effective January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the current requirement in BIMC 13.16.083(C) for cooperative or
condominium associations to guarantee the full pass through of rate reductions to qualifying individuals is not administratively feasible for staff to implement as intended.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Low-income customer discounts. Section 13.16.083 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
13.16.083 Requirements for eligibility for discount.
A. The rate reduction shall only apply to utility charges for service to a residence. Theresidence for which the rate reduction is requested must be the applicant’s principal place of
residence.
B. The applicant must be the head of the household for the residence for which the ratereduction is requested.
C. The utility account must be in the applicant’s name or the name of the applicant’s
spouse. or in the name of a cooperative or condominium association. In situations where the utility account is in the name of a cooperative or condominium association, that organization
must guarantee to the city that the full benefit of any rate reduction shall be received by the
qualifying individuals under BIMC 13.16.080
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D. No person may claim a rate reduction for more than one dwelling unit during the samebilling period.
E. For purposes of this chapter, “low income” means that the person has a combined
disposable income in an amount that would qualify the person for property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381(5). “Combined disposable income” shall be defined as stated in RCW
84.36.383.
Section 2. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of
this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be preempted by state
or federal law or regulation, such decision or preemption shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 3. Effective date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force January 1,
2026.
PASSED by the City Council this 9th day of December, 2025.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 9 th day of December, 2025.
Ashley Mathews, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
Christine Brown, MMC, City Clerk
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: December 9, 2025
PUBLISHED: December 12, 2025
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2026