City Poll Finds That 79 Percent of Surveyed Residents Given Details of SPU Acquisition, Support It

Editor's note: The following is a press release from the city of Shoreline.

In early May, the City contracted with EMC Research to conduct a scientifically valid telephone poll to find out Shoreline residents’ opinions regarding the City’s proposed acquisition of the Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) water system in Shoreline. Of the 501 surveys conducted, 79 percent of informed respondents—people told details of the city's plan by the poll taker—supported Shoreline’s proposed acquisition.

Information respondents felt was most important to know in making their decision included:

No increase in property tax or forecasted water rates - No increase in property taxes will be required to purchase the system. It will be paid by bonds, which are repaid by the revenue generated from providing the water service. Water rates will also not increase more than SPU’s forecasted water rates for 2020 and beyond. In other words, a Shoreline ratepayer’s water bill will remain equal to or less than what their bills would be if SPU continued to own the utility.

No more surcharge or Seattle utility tax - Shoreline customers of SPU currently pay a 14 percent surcharge for living outside of Seattle’s city limits as well as a Seattle utility tax that goes directly into Seattle’s general fund to pay for such things as Seattle parks, police, fire and neighborhoods. Ownership of the water utility will mean that Shoreline ratepayers will no longer pay a utility tax to Seattle and their money would no longer go towards subsidizing lower rates for other SPU customers.

Money reinvested in Shoreline, not Seattle - Owning the water system means Shoreline can use revenues to reinvest in the system for things that SPU isn’t focused on, like infrastructure improvements to help improve Shoreline’s commercial districts and increase water flow for firefighting purposes throughout the City.

Local control - Purchasing the SPU water system will give the City and its citizens direct control over water utility service and decisions instead of relying on Seattle’s public utility to look out for our interests. Currently, decisions on rates, charges and infrastructure investments are made by the Seattle City Council and SPU. Shoreline ratepayers have no direct voice in those decisions. If the City operated the utility, Shoreline ratepayers would have a direct say through the Shoreline City Council.

In addition to supporting the SPU acquisition, 75 percent of respondents said the City is moving in the right direction and 70 percent gave the City a positive rating for the overall job it is doing.

“When residents learn they can have local control over how the system is managed and that their money will be reinvested in Shoreline instead of Seattle, all for the same rates, or even less, as SPU would charge them, they understand why it is a good business decision for our City,” states City Manager Julie Underwood.

Acquiring the SPU water system in Shoreline has been a community priority for many years and a specific Council goal since 2009. City staff have been negotiating with SPU for several years and has been engaged in an intense due diligence process since last November to review the financial and engineering analysis of the acquisition to ensure they meet the City’s expectations. Helping the City with the due diligence process has been a 26-member citizen steering committee appointed by the City Manager. The committee’s mission is to provide a recommendation to the City Manager on whether the City should move forward with the acquisition based on the information reviewed during the due diligence process.

The ultimate decision on whether the City will acquire the SPU system will be made by Shoreline citizens through a ballot proposition on the November general election ballot. On July 23, Council is scheduled to decide whether to place the question before the voters in November.

There are two primary reasons for conducting the poll. First, it helps the Council, City staff and the steering committee better understand whether the community still considers the acquisition to be a priority. Second, the poll results help the City to understand what information residents would find helpful in making an informed decision.

The City is committed to continuing its extensive public outreach process over the next few months. City staff have already attended several neighborhood and community meetings to provide information about the SPU acquisition. Staff will also be available at a number of community events throughout the summer and fall to answer questions. If you would like City staff to provide a presentation to your group, contact Management Analyst Eric Bratton at ebratton@shorelinewa.gov or (206) 801-2217.

In addition, two public open houses have been scheduled for Thursday, June 14 and Tuesday, June 19 to give Shoreline residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposed acquisition and to ask staff questions. Both meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and will be at City Hall.

Finally, the City will continue to distribute information through neighborhood newsletters, the City’s newsletter Currents, and direct mailers to the residents of Shoreline.

To see the full results of the survey and to find more information about the proposed SPU acquisition, visit shorelinewa.gov/spu.