'It Just Breaks My Heart': Some Portlanders Are Being Priced Out by Utility Rate Hikes, Among Other Costs

'It just breaks my heart': Some Portlanders are being priced out by utility rate hikes, among other costs

City officials say the 6.4% increase is necessary to keep up on critical infrastructure and to comply with water quality regulations.

Salem City Council passes utility bill fee increase to take effect July 1 - Salem Reporter

Salem city councilors on Tuesday voted to raise a monthly fee on residents’ utility bills alongside an increase in other city fees like those charged to reserve parks or get a hot air balloon permit.  That came after an unsuccessful effort by Councilor Deanna Gwyn to exempt the “operations fee” on utility bills, which most councilors rejected given that it would increase the city’s already multi-million dollar general fund deficit by another $37…