Residents of Grants Pass, Oregon, are bracing for yet another water utility rate increase, marking the second hike this year—or third, if you count the January 2024 increase. For many, this ongoing trend has reached a breaking point as the city’s water bills are now among the highest in the state and potentially the entire United States.
The City of Grants Pass announced that, effective January 1, 2025, utility rates will increase again, this time by 3.02%, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ Cost of Living Index (CPI-U, All Cities). This increase, automatically applied each year, will impact all city service rates except for the Water Treatment Plant Replacement Fee. While these annual cost-of-living adjustments have been standard practice, residents argue that consistent hikes, coupled with mounting fees, are unsustainable.
Water bills in Grants Pass have been a sore subject for years, but with each increase, frustration grows louder. Residents are now questioning how the city ranks so high nationally for utility costs. “It feels like we’re paying for liquid gold,” one local resident remarked. “The city pioneers must think there’s still gold dust coming through our water filters.”
The most recent increases—averaging $12 to $35 per household—were implemented earlier this year, partially attributed to funding for the Grants Pass Police Department. While many residents support public safety, they say these added fees have stretched budgets to their breaking points. Combined with rising costs for food, gas, and other essentials, many families simply cannot keep up.
“It’s absurd,” another resident vented. “How can we afford to live here when water alone is so expensive? Utilities shouldn’t force us to choose between basic needs.”
What frustrates residents further is the lack of clarity regarding where the money goes. While the city cites necessary infrastructure costs, including maintaining and upgrading the water system, the breakdown of fees remains murky. Years of rate hikes have yielded little visible improvement, leading some to speculate about inefficiencies or mismanagement.
“I think something’s afoot here,” said a Grants Pass homeowner. “We’ve been dealing with this for years, but nobody seems to question it. Where does all this money go? It’s time for answers.”
Grants Pass officials defend the rate adjustments, explaining that rising operational and infrastructure costs necessitate annual increases. According to the city, water systems are aging, and fees are critical for ensuring safe and reliable water service. The upcoming 3.02% increase is tied to the national inflation rate, as determined by the CPI-U.
However, many argue this formula fails to account for local economic realities, where wages have not kept pace with inflation or the rising cost of living. As one resident put it, “Inflation affects us all, but utilities shouldn’t be outpacing everything else.”
The addition of police funding fees earlier this year has compounded frustrations, serving as “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” While residents value public services, they question the city’s reliance on utility bills as a funding source. “Why are utilities paying for police? That should be a separate budget item,” said another concerned resident.
With no end to rate hikes in sight, Grants Pass residents are demanding accountability and transparency. “It’s time for the city to find other solutions,” one local business owner noted. “They can’t keep bleeding residents dry.”
As 2025 approaches, the new rate increase will hit bills generated in January, leaving many wondering how much longer they can afford to live in one of the most expensive water districts in the nation. For residents of Grants Pass, water—a basic necessity—has become an increasingly heavy financial burden.
