๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ & ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 24, 2026
Contact: City Administration Office | lmcquead@josephoregon.org
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Interim City Administrator Lacey McQuead announced today that she will recommend significant increases to the Cityโs water and sewer rates during the City Council meeting on April 2nd.
A comprehensive review of the Cityโs utility funds revealed that current revenues cannot cover daily operating costs while simultaneously meeting existing loan obligations. Under the current rate structure, the City is unable to fund day-to-day services, pay down debt, and prepare for essential infrastructure repairs.
โOur priority is ensuring the long-term stability and safety of our water and sewer systems,โ said McQuead. โWhile rate increases are never easy, we must take these steps to fulfill our financial obligations and build a reserve that protects our community from future emergencies.โ
The recommendation is driven by several critical factors:
Unmet Financial Projections: The original pro forma used when securing the Cityโs water loan obligations has not been met, creating a gap between projected and actual revenue.
Depleted Cash Reserves: The City has relied on cash carry-over funds to stay current on loan payments. This practice has exhausted those reserves, leaving no โrainy dayโ cushion.
Lack of Capital Improvement Funding: Currently, there are no funds set aside for emergency repairs or long-term upgrades, leaving the City vulnerable to infrastructure failures.
The April 2nd City Council meeting will include a detailed presentation on the financial health of the utility funds and the specific adjustments required to restore fiscal stability. Residents are encouraged to attend or view the meeting online to learn more about the proposal.
For more information, please visit the City Website at JosephOregon.org, contact the City Administration Office at Lmcquead@josephoregon.org or visit the Link to Agendas & Minutes.