A single person in the city of Snoqualmie pays roughly $120 per month, which over 12 months is $1,440 per year for their water bills. Someone making minimum wage and working 40 hours a week (with some overtime) makes roughly $15,000 after taxes per year.

A bill of $1,440 is 9.6 percent of this person’s annual income, just to pay for a single utility.

The cost of basic utilities in Snoqualmie has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years, driving low-income (and longtime residents) out of their hometown.

I’ve watched my water bill increase from $75 per month to $120 per month over the past eight years and other utilities and taxes continue to increase, while my wages remain relatively the same, at a local 501(c)(3) non-profit assisting the elderly and disabled in our community.

I’m sharing this information as encouragement to other citizens to ask questions of their local government and stand up for reasonable utility rates.

Jonathan G. Nelson

Snoqualmie