• Fees on utilities will be passed on to consumers
• Affects only those in unincorporated King County
• Adds up to $300 per year to utility bills.
• County Council, staff action done “below the radar.”
• Final public hearing Dec. 7, followed by vote to adopt.
• Kathy Lambert, Council representative including Sammamish, Issaquah, co-sponsored.

Kathy Lambert, co-sponsor of a bill labeled “unlawful” that would impose a new tax on unincorporated King County households. Photo via Google images.

The King County Council is poised to adopt an ordinance intended to “coerce” utility companies and water and sewer districts into franchise fees to use street rights-of-way in order to raise millions of dollars in fees for the County’s general fund.

The problem—and there are many—is that the ordinance and use of funds is unlawful under state statutes, says a coalition of water districts that issued a press release today.

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