Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is touting her first proposed budget as avoiding “major new revenue.” Still, Seattle residents will enter 2027 paying significantly more to City Hall, including a 9.5 percent electricity rate hike, a 7.9 percent sewer increase, and higher drainage rates, while Wilson’s budget adds a new rental fee and double-digit increases to some permits and inspections.
Seattle City Light says its 9.5 percent average rate increase will take effect in 2027, with another 9.5 percent increase scheduled for 2028. Seattle Public Utilities customers will also see sewer rates rise 7.9 percent and drainage rates approximately 4.9 percent in 2027.
Those utility increases were approved through separate city rate-setting processes rather than created by Wilson’s newly released budget. But Seattle households will already be paying more to city government as Wilson proposes additional increases in other city fees…