Performance Measures
Related Information
Rates and Fees
About this measure: DNRP seeks to minimize rates and fees while maximizing value of service. Major programs track rates and fee against the level of inflation and benchmark against similar service providers. For inflation, we look at changes in the consumer price index over a 10 year time horizon.
Because benchmarking against similar service providers and jurisdictions is time intensive, this is done only every other year for most of our programs. Comparative programs are selected for proximity, range of services, and relative cost of doing business.
Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD)
Monthly residential wastewater service fee increases vs. Consumer Price Index increases
2010 Wastewater Rate: $31.90
2010 Target: rate if it had risen by rate of inflation from the 1998 rate: $24.31
Difference: $7.59 or 31.2 percent
Influencing factors: WTD is in a period of major construction activity as it invests in future service, including construction of the Brightwater Treatment Plant and its conveyance system.
Strategy going forward: WTD has been implementing a productivity initiative to reduce operating costs and reduce future rate pressure. The current two-year rate for 2009-2010 is $31.90. The two-year rate for 2011 and 2012 will be $36.10.
Rate vs. comparable agencies
Rate comparisons provide qualitative information. As a result, there are no targets established for this measure. The wastewater service rate in 2010 was slightly higher than the $31.40 average of fees from other jurisdictions and 6.2% higher than the $30.04 median.
There are significant differences among these utilities in the extent and level of services they provide. For example, some may not provide full secondary treatment or recycle biosolids as extensively as King County. Additionally, the division is in a period of major construction activity as it invests in future service, including construction of the Brightwater Treatment Plant and its conveyance system.
WTD has implemented a productivity initiative program aimed at reducing operating costs and increasing savings to ratepayers. The productivity initiative allows employee flexibility to apply business practices used in private industry to cut operating costs, increase productivity, and continue a high level of service and environmental protection for county residents. While the Productivity Initiative will sunset in 2011 and new program is under development.
Solid Waste Division (SWD)
Comparison of tip fee with other agencies that provide comparable services
2010 Results: As of December 2010, the King County solid waste tip fee of $95.00 per ton was below the mean ($114.37) and the median ($112.94) of the tip fees of seven comparable jurisdictions (including King County).
2010 Target: For the solid waste tip fee to continue to be below the mean and the median of other, comparable jurisdictions.
2011 Target: For the solid waste tip fee to continue to be below the mean and the median of other, comparable jurisdictions.
Influencing Factors: SWD tip fee remained at $95.00 per ton in 2010 which was low, relative to the rates of most other jurisdictions.
Strategy Going Forward: The solid waste tip fee is currently expected to remain at $95.00 through 2011.
Technical Notes: The other agencies included in this measure are solid waste utilities in Clark, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane Counties, and the Cities of Seattle and Tacoma. The mean and median for this measure were calculated using the flat, base rate without surcharges and taxes. The rates for each of the jurisdictions are the same for all customer classes (resident, non-resident and commercial) except for the city of Tacoma, which has different rates for different customer classes. The rates used in this measure for the city of Tacoma are the city resident and commercial rates.
Solid Waste Division tip fee compared to rate of inflation
2010 Results: The Solid Waste Division tip fee was lower in 2010 than if it had risen at the rate of inflation since 2000.
2010 Target: For SWD tip fee to be lower than if it had risen at the rate of inflation since 2000.
2011 Target: For SWD tip fee to be lower than if it had risen at the rate of inflation since 2000.
Influencing Factors: SWD implemented operational efficiencies in 2010 to keep costs down, including reducing hours at some transfer stations and using tippers instead of walking floor trailers to dispose of solid waste at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. This helped enable the tip fee to remain at $95.00 per ton which was lower than it would have been if it had risen at the rate of inflation since 2000.
Strategy Going Forward: SWD will continue to implement operational efficiencies in 2011 to keep costs down, including continuing reduced hours at some transfer stations and use of tippers at the landfill.
Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD)
Comparison of surface water management fees with inflation
About this measure: This measure tracks surface water management fees compared to inflation rates over the last 10 years.
2009 Results: Surface Water Management fees have risen less than the rate of inflation. In 2007, the King County Council approved an increase to the surface water management fee, bringing up the annual charge to $111 per residential parcel. The increase raised revenue to compensate for the eroding effects of inflation. Since 2002, inflation based on CPI has increased by an estimated 20%. King County Office of Management and Budget projections suggest that inflation will rise by another 3.2% through 2010.
2010 results: Surface water management fees were lower than inflation.
2011 target: Increase surface water management fees at a rate commensurate or no more than inflation. There was a rate increase for 2011 from $111.00 per Single Family Residence (SFR) to $133.00 (SFR).
Influencing factors: Many factors drive changes to rates and fees, including increased regulatory requirements, storm events that induce flooding and other natural disasters, inflation, changes in the economy, additional development, demands for natural resource management services.
Strategy going forward:Making surface water activities more efficient while prioritizing how surface water revenues are spent will be important tasks for the Water and Land Resources Division over the next several years. This will be especially challenging in the coming years as increasing regulatory requirements will likely increase the cost of providing surface water services.
Surface water rate vs. comparable agencies
2010 Results: There was no rate increase for 2010 and King County's surface water management fees are less than both the average and the median of what other incorporated, cities and towns, in King County charge.
For 2011, there was a rate increase from $111.00 to $133.00 per Single Family Residence (SFR). The rate remains below the mean and median rates of comparable jurisdictions.
Influencing factors: King County offers one of the most robust surface water management programs in the region. As a large jurisdiction it is governed by Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit by the State Department of Ecology to comply with the federal, Clean Water Act. Permit requirements this and for the next six years are more stringent as the state is grappling with declines in the health of its surface waters and the Puget Sound.
Strategy going forward: Much work is being done to determine how to comply with forthcoming regulatory requirements. Stormwater services will continue to make its operations more efficient.
Technical Notes
For definitions and more detail.