Longview Approves Sewer, Water Rate Hikes for 2027

The city council adopted all three staff-recommended utility increases, rejecting an amendment to trim the water rise.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration of an open corroded cast-iron water main beside stacked new pipe segments in a trench, in oxblood, teal, mustard, and cream. — Longview's City Council approved 5.3% sewer and 4.3% water rate increases for 2027, rejecting an amendment to trim the water hike. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support higher sewer and water rates to fund local infrastructure repairs?

The Longview City Council approved sewer, water, and stormwater utility rate increases for 2027, with sewer rising 5.3%, water 4.3%, and stormwater 3.8%. Mayor Erik Halvorson and Councilmember Keith Young voted against the package.

Why it matters

The increases are tied to a Longview-specific inflation rate of 3.8% and are intended to close funding gaps in aging infrastructure. Supporters argued that delaying the funding could leave the city behind and ultimately more costly to repair.

Sewer rates rise 5.3% and water 4.3% for 2027, with the extra 1.5% sewer and 0.5% water increases layered above a 3.8% inflation adjustment. Estimated underfunding stands at 29% for sewer and 22% for water, while the stormwater base rate is $20.72 per Equivalent Residential Unit monthly.

The players

Longview City Council

The elected governing body of Longview, Washington, responsible for setting city utility rates and budgets.

Erik Halvorson

The mayor of Longview who voted against the 2027 utility rate package.

Keith Young

A Longview city councilmember who joined the mayor in voting against the rate increases.

Chris Collins

Longview's Public Works Director who presented the staff's recommended utility rates to the council.

The details

Public Works Director Chris Collins presented the staff recommendations, and the council adopted all three increases. Halvorson, Young, and Councilmember Kalei LaFave attempted to strip the additional half-percent from the water proposal, but the amendment failed in a 3-4 vote. The stormwater increase was limited to the inflationary adjustment.

Utility rate increases take effect in 2027.
More than $2 million in sewer lining work is expected to go out for bids in early 2027.

Market Landscape

The 2027 package builds on Longview's practice of indexing utility rates to a local 3.8% inflation figure, adding targeted increases to address estimated underfunding of 29% for sewer and 22% for water. The council's split vote shows how cities weigh near-term household costs against deferred infrastructure replacement.

Longview households and businesses will see higher sewer, water, and stormwater charges on their 2027 bills. The sewer and water increases are above the local inflation rate, so monthly utility costs will rise faster than general prices.

The takeaway

Households in Longview should budget for higher utility bills in 2027, since the approved rates exceed the local inflation figure. Watch for the early-2027 sewer lining bids, which will show how the new revenue is being spent.