PORTLAND, Ore. — In an 11-1 vote, Portland City Council last week approved a 6.3% rate hike for customers’ water, sewer and stormwater bills. The average single-family household will see their bills jump by about $10 a month.
City officials say it’s necessary to keep up on critical infrastructure and to comply with water quality regulations. But local businesses, like Mother’s Bistro, downtown received the news as yet another increased cost they have to bear.
“I mean, we are struggling as it is,” said Lisa Schroeder, executive chef and owner of Mother’s Bistro. “Everything costs so much; everything is going up. Tariffs have even increased the cost of my coffee. So now, something I spend thousands on, water — how much water we go through, so much, loads of dishes — it’s just yet more expenses without additional income. It’s scary.”…