Water/ sewer rates likely to rise

The proposed budget introduced by Mayor Doug Plinski at Monday’s meeting of the Odessa Town Council would increase local water rates by five percent, sewer rates also by five percent and garbage rates by three percent (garbage is a contracted service and the provider has raised rates by that much) in order to keep up with expenses incurred for maintenance and repair of the town’s water and sewer systems.

Small cities and towns throughout eastern Washington have been hard hit by reduced revenue streams over the past few years, said Plinski. Chewelah has had to close its pool, for example, and M...